A new 'take at home' immunotherapy treatment for advanced
non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been recommended by NICE
today, benefitting up to 560 people.
The treatment is given by infusion in hospital or by injections
which can be taken at home, reducing the need for hospital
appointments and offering an effective additional option that may
bring be more convenient for patients and improve their quality
of life.
Atezolizumab (brand name Tecentriq), manufactured by Roche, has
been recommended in final draft guidance, for adults with NSCLC
who have had surgery to completely remove the cancer and
chemotherapy; and have a high risk of cancer recurrence, 50% or
more of tumour cells show a specific biomarker and do not have
EGFR or ALK positive gene mutations.
Immunotherapies are a type of cancer treatment that harness the
body's own immune system to fight cancer cells. Atezolizumab
works by targeting a protein that prevents the immune system from
attacking the lung cancer cells. By blocking this protein, the
treatment effectively removes this shield, allowing the body's
natural defences to recognise and destroy lung cancer cells more
effectively.
Atezolizumab has been available through the Cancer Drugs Fund since
September 2022, to allow further data to be collected on its
clinical and cost effectiveness. This evidence, alongside more
mature clinical trial data showed that the treatment can now be
recommended for routine use on the NHS.
Clinical trial evidence shows that compared with active
monitoring, atezolizumab reduces the risk of cancer coming back
and increases how long people live. Indirect comparisons with
pembrolizumab, the standard treatment for this form of cancer
after surgery, also suggest it at least equally effective at
extending both cancer-free survival and how long people
live.
The treatment will be made routinely available on the NHS from
today (Thursday, 15 May).
The company has a confidential commercial arrangement through a
patient access scheme, which makes atezolizumab available to the
NHS with a discount.
Read the full final draft guidance for atezolizumab for adjuvant
treatment of resected non-small-cell lung
cancer.
