NHS England strikes deal on new NICE recommended lung cancer immunotherapy drug

NHS chief Simon Stevens has announced that NHS England has struck a deal with MSD, endorsed by NICE, to make the lung cancer drug pembrolizumab available for routine use on the NHS. New trial results show pembrolizumab extends life for certain adults with lung cancer for more than a year. Pembrolizumab is the first drug to break the new budget impact threshold for new products costing more than £20 million a year, which is why NHS England has worked closely with MSD to reach a deal, showing the new system works for patients, the taxpayer and industry. The drug, which