The recommendation specifies the use of Revlimid, in combination with dexamethasone, as an option for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received two or more prior therapies.
According to new evaluation criteria for innovative, life-extending therapies recently adopted by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Revlimid is considered a cost-effective use of National Health Service (NHS) resources. This evaluation considered peer-reviewed clinical studies that demonstrated Revlimid offers unsurpassed survival, deep and durable responses that improve over time and a manageable side-effect profile that is acceptable for long-term use.
The preliminary recommendation will now undergo consultation, leading to a third appraisal committee meeting, scheduled to take place near the end of the first quarter of 2009. A final recommendation and final guidance are expected during the second quarter of 2009.
Sol Barer, chairman and CEO of Celgene, said: “This recommendation from NICE is a welcome recognition of the increasing value innovative medicines provide to patients and healthcare systems. In particular, Revlimid offers patients a convenient, long-term, continuous therapy that suppresses their disease and enables them to live longer, more productive lives.”