British panel backs Eli Lilly's lung cancer drug Alimta

The U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, Wednesday said Eli Lilly & Co's lung cancer drug Alimta should be reimbursed for the treatment of mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.

The final guidance from NICE, the body that determines which drugs are provided by the National Health Service in England and Wales, recommends Alimta for patients who have advanced mesothelioma and are unsuitable for curative surgery.

In 2006 Alimta reported worldwide sales of $611.8 million, up 32% from the previous year.

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Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/british-panel-backs-eli-lillys/story.aspx?guid=%7BF7ECB20D-2751-4C51-B444-D7E05916D17D%7D