Authors' objectives:

To summarise the current research evidence on ibritumomab tiuxetan for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Authors' recommendations: - Clinical impact: Further trials looking at length of response before relapse are required before the full impact of ibritumomab tiuxetan can be estimated. An estimated 300 to 550 patients may be eligible for ibritumomab tiuxetan therapy. - Service impact: There is unlikely to be a significant service impact associated with the introduction of ibritumomab tiuxetan. The radiolabelling process and regulations will be familiar to nuclear medicine departments. - Additional factors: Because of its prolonged nature any drug with the potential to lengthen survival in NHL will be welcomed by doctors, patients and carers. - Financial and overall NHS impact: Due to the lack of cost data available, it is difficult to estimate the likely financial impact associated with the introduction of ibritumomab tiuxetan, although it may be high. During the course of the disease patients are given many different regimes, ibritumomab tiuxetan may be an additional cost, but in some cases it may replace or postpone other costly treatment options. This needs to be clarified in cost-effectiveness data.

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2002

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/search

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC)