Nintedanib for treating progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases

1.1 Nintedanib is recommended, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for treating chronic progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases (PF‑ILD) in adults.

Why the committee made these recommendations

Current treatment for PF‑ILD often starts with immunosuppressants, which may or may not be continued when nintedanib is offered.

The clinical trial evidence suggests that nintedanib slows the decline of lung function compared with placebo. But, there are uncertainties in the evidence: it is unclear if nintedanib helps people to live longer, and the trial reflects how nintedanib would be used in the NHS in some but not all people with PF‑ILD.

Because follow up was short in the trial for nintedanib in PF‑ILD, the economic model uses longer follow-up data from nintedanib trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a related condition that progresses in a similar way. This allows better modelling of nintedanib's long-term effect on life expectancy. The cost-effectiveness estimates are likely to be within what NICE considers an acceptable use of NHS resources. So, nintedanib is recommended.