Pfizer`s Sutent is Recommended for Reimbursement for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Patients by British Health Agency

NICE Decision Expands Treatment Choices for Patients
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Pfizer Inc said today that the United Kingdom`s National Institute for Health
and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued its final appraisal document (FAD)
recommending reimbursement for Sutent (sunitinib malate) as a second-line
treatment for patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). This
recommendation follows NICE`s recently published guidance recommending
reimbursement for Sutent for the first-line treatment of advanced kidney cancer.

The guidance states that Sutent is recommended for reimbursement as a treatment
option for patients with advanced GIST after disease progression on or
intolerance to imatinib mesylate, and who have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology
Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.* According to NICE, "the benefits
seen in time to tumor progression and progression free survival were such that a
substantial improvement in overall survival with sunitinib treatment was
probable."

"NICE`s decision gives hope to patients with GIST who develop resistance to
imatinib," said Dr. Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president, clinical development
and medical affairs, Pfizer`s Oncology Business Unit. "Insights into the
causative pathways involved with cancers like GIST will help us bring Sutent to
the right patient at the right time."

NICE`s decision was based on data from a pivotal Phase 3 trial of Sutent
compared with placebo in patients with advanced GIST. Sutent increased time to
tumor progression in the study by almost five months (6.4 weeks vs. 27.3 weeks,
P <0.0001). Following these early findings, 84 percent of patients receiving
placebo switched to Sutent treatment. Updated analyses of this trial
demonstrated a median overall survival of 73.9 weeks for Sutent patients vs.
64.9 weeks for those initially receiving placebo (P = 0.161). However, according
to an exploratory analysis calculating what the difference may have been if the
patients had remained on placebo, estimated overall survival for Sutent patients
was 73.9 weeks, compared to 35 weeks for those receiving placebo.

"It`s a terrible thing to have to tell a patient with terminal cancer that a
treatment is no longer working for them, their cancer is growing again and there
are no other treatments available," said Dr. Beatrice Seddon, consultant
clinical oncologist, University College London Hospitals. "Before the arrival of
sunitinib, this was the situation for people with advanced GIST in the U.K.
NICE`s decision today means that finally, we have something else to offer our
patients, and with it the hope of extra time and quality life with their
families and loved ones."

Sutent has played an important role in re-shaping the treatment landscape for
GIST and advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), two historically
difficult-to-treat cancers. The benefit/risk profile of Sutent has been
well-established through large, randomized clinical trials evaluating the safety
and efficacy in both second-line GIST and first-line advanced RCC. To date,
approximately 50,500 patients globally have been treated with Sutent.

NICE, the independent organization responsible for issuing guidance for drug
reimbursement to the British National Health Service, plans to publish final
guidance in July, which will then be implemented by the local funding bodies in
England and Wales.

About Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is found in the gastrointestinal (GI)
tract and belongs to a group of rare cancers called soft tissue sarcomas.
Sarcomas begin in muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or other
supporting tissue of the body. Advanced GIST affects approximately 90 to 150
people in the U.K. each year, with an annual worldwide incidence of
approximately 1.5 cases per 100,000 persons.

Important SUTENT® (sunitinib malate) Safety Information

Women of child bearing age who are (or become) pregnant during therapy should be
informed of the potential for fetal harm while on SUTENT.

Decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to below the lower limit
of normal (LLN) have been observed. Patients with concomitant cardiac conditions
should be carefully monitored for clinical signs and symptoms of congestive
heart failure.

Patients should be monitored for hypertension and treated as needed with
standard antihypertensive therapy. CBCs with platelet count and serum
chemistries should be performed at the beginning of each treatment cycle for
patients receiving treatment with SUTENT.

The most common adverse reactions in clinical trials were fatigue, asthenia,
diarrhea, nausea, mucositis/stomatitis, vomiting, dyspensia, abdominal pain,
constipation, hypertension, rash, hand-foot syndrome, skin discoloration,
altered taste, anorexia and bleeding.

For more information on SUTENT and Pfizer Oncology, including full prescribing
information for SUTENT (sunitinib malate), please visit www.pfizer.com.

About Pfizer Oncology

Pfizer Oncology is committed to the discovery, investigation and development of
innovative treatment options for cancer patients worldwide. Our robust pipeline
consists of 21 biologics and small molecules in clinical development across four
scientific platforms - anti-angiogenesis, signal transduction, immuno-oncology,
and cytotoxic potentiators. Pfizer Oncology has over 200 clinical trials
including robust Phase 3 clinical trial programs in renal cell carcinoma,
prostate cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic breast cancer,
colorectal cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

By working collaboratively with academic institutions, researchers, governments,
and licensing partners, Pfizer Oncology strives to transform treatment by
targeting the right drug for the right patient at the right time. For more
information please visit www.Pfizer.com.

Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world

Founded in 1849, Pfizer is the world's premier biopharmaceutical company taking
new approaches to better health. We discover, develop, manufacture and deliver
quality, safe and effective prescription medicines to treat and help prevent
disease for both people and animals. We also partner with healthcare providers,
governments and local communities around the world to expand access to our
medicines and to provide better quality health care and health system support.
At Pfizer, more than 80,000 colleagues in more than 90 countries work every day
to help people stay happier and healthier longer and to reduce the human and
economic burden of disease worldwide.

*Patients without symptoms or only mildly symptomatic from their cancer.

Pfizer Inc
Jack Cox, 212-733-5017

Copyright Business Wire 2009