Appendix B: Sources of evidence considered by the Committee

A. The assessment report for this appraisal was prepared by Aberdeen Health Technology Assessment Group:

  • Hislop J, Quayyum Z et al. Systematic review of the clinical and cost effectiveness of imatinib at escalated doses of 600 mg/day or 800 mg/day for the treatment of unresectable and/or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumours which have progressed on treatment at a dose of 400 mg/day, March 2010

B. The following organisations accepted the invitation to participate in this appraisal as consultees and commentators. They were invited to comment on the draft scope, assessment report and the appraisal consultation document (ACD). Organisations listed in I, II and III were also invited to make written submissions and have the opportunity to appeal against the final appraisal determination.

I) Manufacturers/sponsors:

  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK

II) Professional/specialist and patient/carer groups:

  • Beating Bowel Cancer

  • Bowel Cancer UK

  • Cancer Research UK

  • GIST Support UK

  • Macmillan Cancer Support

  • Rarer Cancers Forum

  • Royal College of Nursing

  • Royal College of Pathologists

  • Royal College of Physicians, Medical Oncology Joint Special Committee

  • Sarcoma UK

  • United Kingdom Oncology Nursing Society

III) Other consultees:

  • Department of Health

  • Welsh Assembly Government

IV) Commentator organisations (without the right of appeal):

  • Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland

  • National Cancer Research Institute

  • National Collaborating Centre for Cancer

  • NHS Quality Improvement Scotland

  • Pfizer

C. The following individuals were selected from clinical specialist and patient expert nominations from the non-manufacturer/sponsor consultees and commentators. They participated in the Appraisal Committee discussions and provided evidence to inform the Appraisal Committee's deliberations. They gave their expert personal view on imatinib by attending the initial Committee discussion and/or providing written evidence to the Committee. They were also invited to comment on the ACD.

  • Dr Robin Reid, Consultant Pathologist, nominated by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland – clinical specialist

  • Professor Ian Judson, Consultant, nominated by Royal College of Physicians – clinical specialist

  • Dr David Cook, Retired, nominated by GIST Support UK – patient expert

  • Judith Robinson, Chair of GIST Support UK, nominated by GIST Support UK – patient expert

D. Representatives from the following manufacturers/sponsors attended Committee meetings. They contributed only when asked by the Committee chair to clarify specific issues and comment on factual accuracy.

  • Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)