View source for National Institute for Clinical Excellence

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The National Institute for Clinical Excellence ([[NICE]]) is an independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health.

==History==

==Activities==
===Kidney Cancer Medicines===

NICE has been in deliberations about four kidney cancer medicines since 2008. It initially rejected all four - [[Sutent]] by [[Pfizer]], [[Avastin]] by [[Roche]], [[Nexavar]] by [[Bayer]] and [[Torisel]] by [[Wyeth]] - claiming they would only save lives by up to six months and the NHS money would be better spent elsewhere.<ref>Hawkes, N.[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article4474425.ece  35,000-a-year kidney cancer drug too costly NHS] ''The Times''. Accessed 27 August 2009.</ref> After criticism, it made an 'end-of-life' cost benefit appraisal and recommended [[Sutent]] after [[Pfizer]] agreed to offer the first cycle of treatments for free in England. <ref>Timmins, N. [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1768e904-f25c-11dd-9678-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 Only One Cancer Drug Approved.] ''Financial Times''. Accessed 27 August 2009.</ref> In August 2009, NICE announced it had revised its guidelines for 'end-of-life' drugs and the three other kidney cancer meds were still rejected. The announcement was once again criticised, this time by [[Roche]]'s UK CEO [[John Melville]] who said the decision was 'entirely illogical'.<ref>Reuters. [http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSLP40990520090825 UK's NICE attacked as cancer drugs again rebuffed] Accessed 27 August 2009.</ref>

==People==

==Contact==

:Address: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
:MidCity Place
:71 High Holborn
:London
:WC1V 6NA
	
:Telephone: +44 (0)845 003 7780
:Fax: +44 (0)845 003 7784
	
:Email: nice@nice.org.uk
:Website: http://www.nice.org.uk/

==Resources==

* [http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/TA178Guidance1.pdf Nice Guidance]

==Notes==

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[[Category:Pharma]]
[[Category:Pharmaceutical Industry]]