The skin cancer drug Yervoy can be considered as a ray of hope for the majority of people living with skin cancer. However, a latest study has claimed that the drug has reflected good results only on a particular group of patients, out of all analyzed patients. Further, the study exposed that even that particular group survived just four months extra in comparison to patients treated with existing traditional medications.

Yesterday, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence marked it as an expensive drug that costs around $126,600. The drug cannot be applauded on cost-effective measures of health funds. However, authorities are still to make final decision on the drug, and are believed to do so next month after observing a public consultation.

The Chief Executive of NICE, Sir Andrew Dillon said:"We need to be sure that new treatments provide sufficient benefits to patients to justify the significant cost the NHS is being asked to pay”.

In addition, the watchdog has insisted that the drug is very expensive to be accommodated by the UK’s health care system. At present, the United Kingdom supports a system where any medication recommended by the cost- efficiency watchdog is paid by the government. Usually, the agency tends to disqualify expensive drugs such as some for prostate cancer, breast cancer, as well as multiple sclerosis.

Consequently, the institute’s recommendations play a significant role and therefore doctors offering their services with the government-funded health service are not supposed to prescribe Yervoy without approval.