Novartis $372,000 Cancer Drug Hits First Hurdle in Europe
- Initial U.K. decision finds therapy isn’t cost-effective
- Drugmaker offered undisclosed discount on $372,000 list price
Photographer: Gianluca Colla/Bloomberg
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Novartis AG’s cancer drug Kymriah faced its first setback in Europe as U.K. health authorities made an initial recommendation against paying for the breakthrough therapy to treat a form of lymphoma in adults.
Although the one-time treatment has demonstrated significant benefits, and Novartis had offered an undisclosed discount on the list price of 282,000 pounds ($372,000), Kymriah isn’t adequately cost-effective for routine funding, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said in a statement Wednesday. Further discussion is needed, according to the cost adviser.