National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Reverses Earlier Decision, Backs Johnson & Johnson's Zytiga

Britain's drug watchdog has reversed a controversial decision not to fund a new prostate cancer pill that was developed in the country after maker Johnson & Johnson agreed a new discount on supplies to the UK state healthcare service. Zytiga, which is known chemically as abiraterone, was approved last year in Europe and the United States to treat advanced prostate cancer in patients who previously received chemotherapy. The drug was developed by researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research and London's Royal Marsden Hospital. British pharmaceutical firm BTG is entitled to receive royalty payments on the drug.