NICE Rejects Coverage for AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s Breast Cancer Drug Enhertu Due to Cost-Effectiveness Concerns

- The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK has decided against recommending AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's breast cancer drug Enhertu (also known as trastuzumab deruxtecan) for coverage under the National Health Service (NHS) due to concerns over its cost-effectiveness.
- Enhertu is a combination drug targeting HER2-positive breast cancer.
- NICE's decision is based on a Technology Appraisal (TA) process, which assesses the clinical and cost-effectiveness of drugs submitted for approval.
- NICE has approved other breast cancer medicines, with 15 such treatments approved since 2018, potentially benefiting tens of thousands of people.
- The decision not to recommend Enhertu for coverage is based on the drug's cost-effectiveness, which is a critical factor in NICE's assessment process.