NICE changes its tune on J&J's Zytiga

The U.K. cost watchdogs at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have kept a stiff upper lip when it comes to Johnson & Johnson's ($JNJ) prostate cancer drug Zytiga, saying that it couldn't fund the med for pre-chemo treatment because it was too expensive. Now J&J has stepped forward with a new payment deal, so NICE is changing its tune. The cost gatekeeper agreed to cover Zytiga after a reduction in the drug's list price, and as long as J&J covers the med at full cost after patients' first 10 months of treatment. The decision comes as a win for Zytiga, which is facing some stiff competition from Astellas' rival med Xtandi. Story