Paclitaxel as albumin-bound nanoparticles with gemcitabine for untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer

2 The technology

Paclitaxel as albumin-bound nanoparticles (nab-paclitaxel; Abraxane, Celgene)
Marketing authorisation	Paclitaxel as albumin-bound nanoparticles with gemcitabine is indicated 'for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas'.
Recommended dose and schedule	Dosage Nab-paclitaxel: 125 mg/m² intravenous infusion on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28‑day cycle. Gemcitabine: 1,000 mg/m² intravenous infusion immediately after each nab-paclitaxel administration. Average length of a course of treatment Treatment should be continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity (median time in pivotal trial 15 weeks).
Price	The UK list price is £246.00 per 100‑mg vial. The company has agreed a patient access scheme with the Department of Health. This scheme provides a simple discount to the list price of nab-paclitaxel, with the discount applied at the point of purchase or invoice. The level of the discount is commercial in confidence. The Department of Health considered that this patient access scheme does not constitute an excessive administrative burden on the NHS.