bevacizumab (Avastin)

following a full submission considered under the end of life and ultra-orphan medicine process

bevacizumab (Avastin®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland.

Indication under review: in combination with paclitaxel, topotecan, or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for the treatment of adult patients with platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who received no more than two prior chemotherapy regimens and who have not received prior therapy with bevacizumab or other vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors or VEGF receptor-targeted agents.

SMC restriction:  to use in combination with paclitaxel.

The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy improved progression free survival in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in an open-label phase III randomised study.

This SMC advice takes account of the benefits of a Patient Access Scheme (PAS) that improves the cost-effectiveness of bevacizumab. This advice is contingent upon the continuing availability of the PAS in NHS Scotland or a list price that is equivalent or lower.

This advice takes account of the views from a Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) meeting.