Advice
Following a full submission.
Not recommended for use within NHS Scotland.
This pegylated liposomal formulation of doxorubicin hydrochloride is now licensed as monotherapy for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer where there is an increased cardiac risk. An inconclusive study has suggested that it was not inferior to conventional doxorubicin in terms of progression-free survival. It was less cardiotoxic than conventional doxorubicin, but was associated with other troublesome adverse events, particularly palmarplantar erythrodysesthesia. The product is significantly more expensive than the standard preparation and its cost-effectiveness in managing metastatic breast cancer has not been addressed by the company in their submission.
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Medicine details
- Medicine name:
- Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx®)
- SMC ID:
- 84/03
- Indication:
- Metastatic breast cancer
- Pharmaceutical company
- Schering-Plough Ltd
- BNF chapter
- Malignant disease and immunosuppression
- Submission type
- Full
- Status
- Not recommended
- Date advice published
- 12 January 2004