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<p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal
methods and processes are internationally respected and have been developed through
periodic review, including extensive engagement with stakeholders, to ensure that
they remain fit for purpose.</p><p>Departmental officials and I have met with NHS
England to discuss the treatment criteria relating to the use of ibrutinib for the
treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). NHS England has advised that it
develops treatment criteria for cancer and other high cost drugs to support implementation
of NICE guidance and to ensure approved treatments are available as intended, with
access funded consistently across the country. These criteria are developed by relevant
expert clinical advisers, drawn from NHS England’s 42 Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs).
These CRGs have been established to support clinical commissioning across the entire
specialised commissioning portfolio.</p><p>NHS England has recently completed a review
of the treatment criteria related to the use of ibrutinib for the treatment of CLL
which concluded that the criteria should be amended such that ibrutinib can be made
available as a treatment option for those patients who have had remission durations
of three years or more with their preceding line of therapy. Ibrutinib is now available
for National Health Service patients in line with the amended treatment criteria.</p>
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