NICE issues final draft guidance on durvalumab for maintenance treatment of unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after platinum-based chemoradiation

DRAFT guidance recommends durvalumab as an option for treating locally advanced unresectable NSCLC in adults whose tumours express PD-L1 on ≥1% of cells and whose disease has not progressed after platinum-based chemoradiation, if the stated criteria are met.

SPS commentary:

Treatment is only recommended in those who have had concurrent platinum-based chemoradiation, and if the company provides durvalumab according to the commercial arrangement.

This appraisal reviewed additional evidence collected as part of the Cancer Drugs Fund managed access agreement for durvalumab in this setting (NICE technology appraisal guidance 578). This included longer term data from the PACIFIC clinical trial and from people having treatment in the NHS, which showed that people having durvalumab live longer than those who have standard care, defined as routine surveillance and an annual CT scan.

A related press release from NHS England states that the treatment will be offered to more than 550 patients a year.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

Resource links:

Technology appraisal guidance [TA578]

NHS England press release