The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has rejected another cancer drug for the NHS due to its cost.
It means at least five cancer drugs have been declined by the agency for NHS use in the last year on cost related grounds.
Fulvestrant, known commercially as Faslodex and manufactured by AstraZeneca, is designed to delay the growth of a particular type of advanced breast cancer.
However, NICE said it did not represent a good use of NHS resources.
As COVER previously reported, Avastin, which is also used to treat metastatic breast cancer, and three leukaemia drugs have been rejected this year.
The importance of price for NHS drugs was further highlighted last week when the body recommended nilotinib to treat certain types of chronic myeloid leukaemia after the manufacturer offered a discount.
At the same time it rejected both dasatinib and imatinib, which cost more than £30,000 and £40,000 per year respectively, noting the cost fears for treating long term chronic conditions.
Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, explained in this case, Fulvestrant did not provide value for money.
"While it is important for women with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer to have a range of options, NICE has to ensure that the NHS provides treatments that bring benefits which are value for money," he said.
"After analysing the evidence comparing fulvestrant's clinical effectiveness with aromatase inhibitor therapy, our independent committee found that the estimates of overall survival and time to tumour progression were very uncertain.
"The Committee concluded that it had not been given any conclusive evidence that fulvestrant extends life or delays tumour progression any more than aromatase inhibitor therapy, which is currently used in the NHS.
"We encourage AstraZeneca, patient organisations and other relevant third parties to comment on this preliminary recommendation during this public consultation period so that they can contribute to the development of this guidance," he added.
The consultation is open until 13 September and NICE expects to publish its final guidance in the new year.
