Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the clinical and cost effectiveness of first-line use of encorafenib in combination with cetuximab and chemotherapy for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer; and whether he has set a timetable for consideration by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence of this treatment approach for routine NHS use.

The BREAKWATER study is investigating encorafenib, a BRAF inhibitor, in combination with cetuximab and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for the potential treatment of colorectal cancer. This regimen does not currently have a United Kingdom marketing authorisation for use in the treatment of previously untreated BRAF V600E mutation positive metastatic colorectal cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has prioritised an appraisal of encorafenib for this indication in anticipation of it being granted a UK marketing authorisation and will schedule the appraisal so that guidance can be published as close as possible to the expected licensing date.