Roche Holding AG (ROG)’s Tarceva lung- cancer medicine won the backing of the U.K.’s health-cost agency after presenting data comparing the drug with AstraZeneca Plc (AZN)’s Iressa, which is already recommended. Tarceva is a cost-effective option for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has a certain gene mutation, the London-based National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, known as NICE, said today in a statement. The Basel, Switzerland-based company agreed to give the state-run National Health Service a discount, and the amount is confidential.
