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LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Britain's healthcare cost agencyNICE has recommended a third new drug for melanoma, this timefrom GlaxoSmithKline, after the drugmaker offered tosupply it at a discount to the state-run National HealthService.
GSK currently markets Tafinlar but the product will soontransfer to Novartis under a deal between the twocompanies to trade assets.
Tafinlar is an oral medicine that works in a similar way toRoche's already recommended drug Zelboraf. Both targeta specific gene mutation linked to around half of aggressivemelanomas.
The drugs have produced remarkable results in shrinkingtumours in clinical trials, although cancers typically becomeresistant to treatment within a year.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)said on Thursday it had fast-tracked its recommendation forTafinlar to the final draft stage in order to speed up access tothe treatment.
The recommendation is conditional on GSK supplying the drugto the state health system at an undisclosed discount to thelist price, which is 1,400 pounds ($2,280) for a 28-capsule packof 75 mg pills. The recommended dose is 150 mg taken twicedaily.
NICE also recommends the use of Bristol-Myers Squibb's injectable melanoma drug Yervoy. (1 US dollar = 0.6130 British pound) (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Jason Neely)
