NICE advises on use of erlotinib in NSCLC

According to the new guidance erlotinib should be used as an alternative to docetaxel for patients with NSCLC for whom one chemotherapy regimen has already failed. However, NICE specifies that erlotinib should only be used as an alternative to docetaxel when the manufacturer provides the drug at the same overall cost as docetaxel.

Erlotinib is not recommended for people who have not responded to two prior chemotherapy regimens, including docetaxel or for those with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who cannot take docetaxel and who have not responded to one chemotherapy regimen.

A summary of the new guidance is available at www.mims.co.uk.  To read the full guidance visit the NICE website.