What has SMC said?
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted dabrafenib, for treating children aged 1 year and older with low grade glioma or high-grade glioma. A glioma is a type of brain tumour. High grade gliomas are aggressive and fast growing and low-grade gliomas grow slowly. Dabrafenib is used together with another medicine called trametinib. It is used for the following patients:
- For patients with low grade glioma, it is used where the cancer cells have a specific mutation (change) in the BRAF gene called BRAF V600E and the patient needs a systemic treatment (an oral or injectable treatment that acts throughout the body).
- For patients with high grade glioma, it is used where the cancer cells have a specific mutation (change) in the BRAF gene called BRAF V600E and where the patient has already received at least one previous radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
This document summarises the SMC decision and what it means for patients.
You can find more detailed information about the SMC assessment of dabrafenib by looking at the SMC detailed advice document (SMC2667).
What does SMC’s decision mean for patients?
Dabrafenib 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 or your child.
You can find more information about making decisions about your treatment, or the treatment of your child in this booklet called: Medicines in Scotland: What’s the right treatment for me?
More about SMCs 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. (This applies to high grade glioma only).
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 patients.
- The potential impact of the medicine on patients and carers.
- 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 used.
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: htps://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/how-we-decide/
More information and support
The organisation below can give more information and support for people with brain tumours and their families. SMC is not responsible for the content of any information provided by external organisations.
The Brain Tumour Charity
https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org 0808 800 0004
You can find out more about dabrafenib (Finlee®) in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) by searching for the medicine name on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website.