There were “important questions that still need answering” about how much benefit the drug provides, and how it compares to other treatments, a NICE spokesperson said.
“Our independent committee carefully reviewed all the available evidence,” they said.
“This suggests zanidatamab is likely to help people live longer and delay their cancer getting worse.
“The committee was unable to make a positive recommendation based on the evidence submitted by the company at the first meeting,” they added.
Honeybone had his first tumour surgically removed and treated with chemotherapy, but a new tumour was later detected.
After undergoing standard treatments again alongside zanidatamab, scans have shown the cancer is no longer visible.
“I’m one of the lucky ones, living a normal life again, thanks to zanidatamab,” he said.
“I’m back at work full-time – unlike when I was having chemo and immunotherapy, when I couldn’t work – and I was able to visit my brother in Australia over Christmas.
“I’m concerned that not approving this treatment for NHS patients will add to the inequalities in cholangiocarcinoma care we are already seeing – with people who are able to access clinical trials or have private healthcare benefiting from new life-extending treatments, and those that can’t go on a trial or afford to pay for insurance, not surviving.”