NICE have announced their recommendation of crizotinib for people with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer who haven't received treatment before.

Although it doesn’t cure the disease, crizotinib shrinks or slows growth of tumours by targeting ALK mutations,only found in cancerous cells.

Previously people with this type of lung cancer, who hadn't received treatment before, could only be treated with intravenous chemotherapy.

Taking a tablet means people avoid hospital which in turn frees up staff.

The pill usually costs £51,000 per patient for a course of treatment.

When crizotinib was initially reviewed, the company had offered a discount but the NICE committee concluded that it was not cost-effective at that price.

In response to this decision the company offered a further discount.

Prof Carole Longson, director of the health technology evaluation centre at NICE said: “We are pleased that we have been able to work with Pfizer to secure a positive recommendation for crizotinib. As crizotinib is available as an oral treatment, it's a really valuable option for people with untreated lung cancer that will now be routinely available on the NHS.”

Crizotinib is licenced for use in people whose cancer has a specific genetic mutation known as ALK-positive.

Around 459 patients are expected to be eligible for first-line treatment with crizotinib in England and Wales.

Although this is a draft decision from NICE, reforms to the Cancer Drugs Fund means crizotinib will be immediately funded by NHS England.

Source: NICE