gefitinib (Iressa)

Following a full submission

gefitinib (Iressa®) is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland.

Licensed indication under review: the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or
metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK).

In a comparative study in previously untreated patients, gefitinib was superior to a platinumbased
doublet chemotherapy regimen in terms of progression-free survival; subgroup analysis supported this finding in patients with activating mutations of EGFR-TK.

However, the manufacturer’s justification of the treatment’s cost in relation to its health benefits was not sufficient to gain acceptance by SMC and in addition, the manufacturer did not present a sufficiently robust economic case to gain acceptance by SMC