1 Guidance

This guidance has been re-issued after a change to the patient access scheme (August 2013). Part B of the patient access scheme will not be activated. Reference to part B of the patient access scheme has been removed from the recommendations. Reference to it elsewhere in the document should be considered obsolete.

1.1 Pazopanib is recommended as a first-line treatment option for people with advanced renal cell carcinoma

  • who have not received prior cytokine therapy and have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 and

  • if the manufacturer provides pazopanib with a 12.5% discount on the list price as agreed in the patient access scheme.

1.2 When using ECOG performance status, healthcare professionals should take into account any physical, sensory or learning disabilities, or communication difficulties that could affect ECOG performance status and make any adjustments they consider appropriate.

1.3 People who are currently being treated with pazopanib for advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma but who do not meet the criteria in 1.1 should have the option to continue their therapy until they and their clinicians consider it appropriate to stop.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)