Skin Cancer: Medical Treatments
(asked on 12th December 2016) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what restrictions have been placed on patients accessing treatments for advanced (stage 4) melanoma by (a) NHS England, (b) his Department and (c) NICE.
The Department has placed no restrictions on patients accessing treatments for advanced (stage 4) melanoma.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the following treatments for melanoma. National Health Service commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended by NICE for eligible patients within three months of final guidance.
Appraisal number | Year of publication | Technology/condition | Recommendation |
TA268 | 2012 | Ipilimumab for previously treated advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation and following agreement of patient access scheme. |
TA269 | 2012 | Vemurafenib for locally advanced or metastatic BRAF V600 mutation-positive malignant melanoma | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation and following agreement of patient access scheme. |
TA319 | 2014 | Ipilimumab for previously untreated advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation and following agreement of patient access scheme. |
TA321 | 2014 | Dabrafenib for unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600 mutation‑positive melanoma | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation and following agreement of patient access scheme. |
TA3571 | 2015 | Pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma after disease progression with ipilimumab | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation and following agreement of patient access scheme. |
TA3661 | 2015 | Pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma not previously treated with ipilimumab | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation and following agreement of patient access scheme. |
TA384 | 2016 | Nivolumab for advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation. |
TA396 | 2016 | Trametinib in combination with dabrafenib for unresectable or metastatic melanoma | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation. |
TA400 | 2016 | Nivolumab in combination with ipilimumab for advanced melanoma | Recommended in line with marketing authorisation and following agreement of patient access scheme. |
TA410 | 2016 | Talimogene laherparepvec for unresectable metastatic melanoma | Optimised recommendation for talimogene laherparepvec as an option for treating unresectable, regionally or distantly metastatic (Stage IIIB, IIIC or IVM1a) melanoma that has not spread to bone, brain, lung or other internal organs, only if: - treatment with systemically administered immunotherapies is not suitable; and - the company provides talimogene laherparepvec with the discount agreed in the patient access scheme. |
TA414 | 2016 | Cobimetinib in combination with vemurafenib for unresectable or metastatic BRAF V600 mutation-positive melanoma | At the time of appraisal, the technology was not considered to be an appropriate use of NHS resources based on the data available. |
1 pembrolizumab within its licensed indication was appraised across two separate appraisals.
NHS England has advised that it has carefully translated the evidence base on which NICE has based its recommendations of clinical and cost effectiveness into practical clarifications which directly relate to how the recommended drug indication is incorporated into known treatment pathways in use in England.
Each set of clarifications is in keeping with the NICE recommendations within the marketing authorisation of the relevant drug.
The treatment criteria for both Cancer Drugs Fund and baseline-funded drug indications are set out in the National Cancer Drugs Fund List which is available at:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/national-cdf-list-v1-15.pdf