Advice
Context
Treatment alternatives
The subcutaneous formulation of trastuzumab provides an alternative route of administration to the intravenous route. There are currently no other NICE-approved biological treatments for HER2-positive breast cancer.
Costs of treatment alternatives
For intravenous trastuzumab, the cost of a 150 mg vial of powder concentrate for solution for infusion is £407.40. The total cost of an 18-cycle course of treatment, assuming a body weight of 70 kg, is £22,407. Each dose is delivered by infusion over a 30-minute period, every 3 weeks. An initial loading dose over a 90-minute period is also required.
These costs are based on prices published in MIMS February 2013. Costs may vary in different settings because of negotiated procurement discounts. The costs do not include the staff costs and consumables associated with administering intravenous infusions.