The U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence rejected another oncology drug, this time Bayer AG's Sorafenib for use in patients with liver cancer.

The government body, which evaluates drugs for use in the National Health Service, said the drug did not provide enough benefit to justify its high cost.

NICE, however, said that Sorafenib should continue to be recommended for use within the Cancer Drugs Fund.

NICE's recommendation against the use of the drug under the NHS is preliminary and the government body is open to consultation. NICE also recently rejected Roche Holding Ltd.'s breast cancer drug Kadcyla on financial grounds.