A new drug that will give hope to Scottish patients with melanoma was today approved for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium. 

In 2011 we attended the very first NICE appraisal in a melanoma treatment.  Prior to the first treatment to be approved in the UK, melanoma patients and clinicians had very little hope when it came to the treatment of advanced melanoma.  

Nowadays, the view is very different.  Over the last nine years or so, several more treatments have been approved for use in the treatment of advanced melanoma. 

Melanoma UK has taken part in numerous appraisals, both with NICE and the SMC.  Recently we attended the SMC appraisal of Encorafenib (Braftovi(R)) and fortunately, this treatment has now been accepted for use within NHS Scotland. 

In combination with binimetinib for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600 mutation encorafenib (Braftovi®) is now accepted for use within NHSScotland.

A huge thank you to all the patients who helped with this appraisal. We are delighted to have taken part in this positive appraisal and hope that this will have a positive impact on patients and medics in Scotland.

For more information follow the links below:

Detailed Advice Document

Decision Explained Public Information Summary