Metastatic breast cancer treatment will still be available to patients despite recent guidance, says Eisai

Breast cancer treatment, eribulin (Halaven), will still be accessible to patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer despite recent guidance by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), according to Eisai.

Eribulin was recommended by NICE for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in adult patients who have progressed after at least two chemotherapeutic regimens, in 2016. Recently, the health authority assessed the therapy for the treatment of patients at an earlier stage — namely after one chemotherapeutic session.

“Eisai is yet again extremely disappointed with a decision from NICE. Metastatic breast cancer patients can only currently access a limited number of new treatments in England, and as eribulin has been shown to significantly improve overall survival in women with this disease it is an important option that they should have access to as early as possible,” emphasized Gary Hendler, chief commercial officer Eisai Oncology Business Group, chairman and CEO Eisai EMEA.

“Denying earlier access to it for these patients will affect their outcomes and as a company focussed on making a positive difference to the lives of patients and their families, NICE's decision concerns us greatly. Thankfully patients can still access eribulin in the third line,” he continued.

“I’ve been using Halaven (eribulin) in the treatment of breast cancer for over six years. It is a very valuable drug in the management of advanced breast cancer and I have observed some positive outcomes. Although the second line use of this drug was not approved by NICE, I am delighted that the third line approval for advanced metastatic breast cancer remains,” commented Dr Hartmut Kristeleit, Consultant Medical Oncologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.