Overview
- NICE issued final draft guidance recommending zanidatamab (Ziihera) on the NHS for adults with HER2-positive advanced biliary tract cancer who have had at least one prior treatment in England and Wales.
- The watchdog reversed an earlier draft rejection after a commercial discount from Jazz Pharmaceuticals made the therapy cost-effective for the health service.
- Clinical trials reported an average overall survival of 18.1 months with zanidatamab compared with 6.2 months on current second-line options.
- About 65 patients a year are expected to qualify for the drug, which is given by intravenous infusion once every two weeks.
- Patients, clinicians, and charities welcomed the move, with families such as that of Huw Jones describing extra time together and experts highlighting improved quality of life.