What has SMC said?
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted cemiplimab, for treating adult patients with recurrent (come back after previous treatment) or metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) cervical cancer. It is used where the cancer has got worse during, or after platinum-based chemotherapy.
This document summarises the SMC decision and what it means for patients.
You can find more detailed information about the SMC assessment of cemiplimab by looking at the SMC Detailed Advice Document (SMC2719).
What does SMC’s decision mean for patients?
Cemiplimab for use as described above is available for prescribing on the NHS in Scotland. Your healthcare professional can discuss with you if it is the right treatment for you
You can find more information about making decisions about your treatment in this booklet called: Medicines in Scotland: What’s the right treatment for me?
More about SMC’s decision
SMC’s decision takes into account a confidential discount offered by the pharmaceutical company.
SMC was also able to be more flexible* in its decision-making because the medicine is for:
- A rare condition, and
- A condition where patients taking current treatments are likely to live less than 3 years.
How does SMC make its decision?
SMC carefully considers every new medicine to make sure it benefits patients and is likely to be a good use of NHS resources.
To do this SMC studies the following:
- Evidence from the company about how well the medicine works compared with current treatments available in Scotland, in relation to how much they will cost to buy and use to treat
- The potential impact of the medicine on patients and
- Advice from healthcare professionals about any benefits of the new medicine compared to current treatment, along with how the new medicine is likely to be
When SMC assesses a medicine it takes account of the needs of all patients in NHSScotland, not only those who may be treated with the medicine.
You can find out more about how SMC decides here: https://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/how- we-decide/
More information and support
Further information, advice and support for patients with cervical cancer and their families and carers can be found through the NHS inform website:
https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/cancer/cancer-types-in-adults/cervical- cancer/
You can find out more about: cemiplimab (brand name: Libtayo®) in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) by searching for the medicine name on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website.