The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published final draft guidelines endorsing the use of Pfizer’s Inlyta (axitinib) by the National Health Service to treat advanced kidney cancer in some patients.

Specifically, Inlyta has been recommended for treating adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma after treatment with a first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor or a cytokine has failed.

The recommendation is, however, contingent on Pfizer providing the drug with the (confidential) discount agreed in the patient access scheme to secure its cost-effectiveness.

The Institute’s Committee concluded that the most plausible cost per QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Year) for Inlyta after first-line treatment with Pfizer’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor Sutent (sunitinib) would be around halfway between £33,500 and £52,900, and after a cytokine £33,000.