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UK cost body spurns Celgene rare blood cancer drug

http://www.reuters.com/article/idCNLDE6230H220100304?rpc=44

LONDON, March 4 (Reuters) - Britain's healthcare cost agency has recommended that Celgene's (CELG.O) drug Vidaza, or azacitidine, should not be used in the state-run health service to treat a rare blood cancer because it is too expensive.

Celgene said on Thursday it would appeal against the negative recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Its drug is used to treat myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), a group of bone marrow disorders where the marrow doesn't produce enough of one or more types of blood cells.

Carole Longson, health technology evaluation centre director at NICE, said that, relative to the benefits, the price of around 45,000 pounds ($68,000) a year was "too high for it to be recommended as a cost effective use of NHS (National Health Service) resources".

The drug is approved and reimbursed in more than 30 other countries around the world.

The NICE draft decision is open to appeal and further consultation before final guidance is issued, which the agency said was expected in May. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler, editing by Will Waterman) ($1=.6640 POUND)