UK Health Radio – Medical News Update Another drug refused by NICE

UK Health Radio – Medical News Update

Another drug refused by NICE

Another row over cancer treatment has been reported by the BBC in which a charity says a decision by the NHS in England to reject a drug that is used to treat men with prostate cancer is a "fiasco".   The drug, Abiraterone is already in use for patients at the end-of-life after treatment with chemotherapy as it gives then an extra few months to spend with their family.

But offering it earlier to patients suffering from prostate cancer is, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, not cost-effective.  They say that while it is true that the drug improves quality of life, it is not clear whether it has the same impact on a patient’s life expectancy.  The uncertainty is due to problems with the research data, NICE said.  They claim that the trial was wound up early although the drug's makers Janssen dispute this.

Instead, of automatically receiving the drug, prostate cancer patients will have to rely on their doctors to apply for it to the Cancer Drugs Fund - a special fund that is set aside for cancer drugs that are not available routinely on the NHS.  Some 3000 patients in the last year have applied to the fund but the fund will end in 2016.  The BBC reported that Owen Sharp who is the chief executive of Prostate Cancer UK, the largest men's health charity, has said that the whole process was "a fiasco".

One patient who has been taking the drug said "I'm privileged to be on this expensive drug" and criticised NICE's inflexibility and the drug company's results-gathering process, saying: "This decision is a kick in the teeth for men with advanced prostate cancer. For many this was a vital opportunity for extra time with loved ones and a chance to delay chemotherapy and the debilitating side-effects that come with it."

The drug would normally cost £3,000 a month, but after negotiations two years ago when the ruling on its use after chemotherapy was reached, it is given to the NHS for a discounted price. At the time it was hailed as a real breakthrough for patients with aggressive prostate cancer.

NICE chief executive Sir Andrew Dillon said it was "disappointing" to have to make the decision and said he was disappointed not to be able to recommend Abiraterone for use before chemotherapy and that pharmaceutical firms had to "balance their desire to make a profit" with the reality that the NHS had to meet all its needs.

Janssen medical director Dr Peter Barnes said the firm was "very disappointed" and would appeal against the decision.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio – Medical News Update

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