1 Recommendations

1.1 Paclitaxel as albumin-bound nanoparticles (nab‑paclitaxel) with gemcitabine is recommended as an option for untreated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in adults, only if:

  • other combination chemotherapies are unsuitable and they would otherwise have gemcitabine monotherapy and

  • the company provides nab‑paclitaxel with the discount agreed in the patient access scheme.

1.2 This recommendation is not intended to affect treatment with nab‑paclitaxel that was started in the NHS before this guidance was published. People having treatment outside this recommendation may continue without change to the funding arrangements in place for them before this guidance was published, until they and their NHS clinician consider it appropriate to stop.

Why the committee made these recommendations

NICE reviewed its technology appraisal guidance on paclitaxel as albumin-bound nanoparticles (nab-paclitaxel) in combination with gemcitabine for previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer (TA360) because the company submitted more evidence and proposed a patient access scheme that would make nab‑paclitaxel available with a confidential price discount.

Nab‑paclitaxel plus gemcitabine would normally be considered for people with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas who would otherwise have gemcitabine.

Evidence shows that nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine is more effective in increasing survival than gemcitabine monotherapy, but is less effective than FOLFIRINOX (a combination of fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin) and similarly effective to gemcitabine plus capecitabine (although the results were uncertain).

Nab‑paclitaxel plus gemcitabine met NICE's end-of-life criteria when compared with gemcitabine monotherapy, but not when compared with gemcitabine plus capecitabine or FOLFIRINOX because it did not improve survival.

The most likely estimate of cost effectiveness compared with gemcitabine monotherapy is £41,000 to £46,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Nab‑paclitaxel plus gemcitabine is not cost effective compared with gemcitabine plus capecitabine or FOLFIRINOX.

Nab‑paclitaxel plus gemcitabine can therefore be recommended for people with metastatic pancreatic cancer only if other combination chemotherapies are not suitable, and they would otherwise have gemcitabine monotherapy.

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)