3rd September 2008
LABOUR CANDIDATE CALLS FOR EARLY DEAL ON KIDNEY CANCER DRUGS
Donna Hutton, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Clwyd West constituency, has called for an early end to an impasse which is preventing NHS use of some drugs found to help treat kidney cancer.
Donna Hutton said:
“I was contacted by constituents who were very upset to hear that four new drugs could not be used by the NHS to treat kidney cancer, although they can apparently be effective. So I contacted the National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence (“NICE”) about their seemingly hard-hearted decision.
“But at the end of August NICE Chief Executive, Andrew Dillon, assured me this was a draft decision only and was out for consultation, although with a very tight deadline.
“Having looked into this carefully, the main point is that clinical evidence, and the testimony of a number of prominent experts, shows these drugs can be effective. But in their draft recommendations, NICE concluded they are too expensive for use by the NHS.
“Yet even in the NICE interim report it was clear there was scope for a deal with the drug producers that may bring down prices, so allowing use by the NHS. It does seem an odd way to go about negotiations, and smacks of ‘brinkmanship’.
“Therefore I believe NICE should now recommend these drugs for use by the NHS and that the Department of Health should press for price reductions by the drug companies, to help with affordability.
“It is only fair for patients and their families that the uncertainty is removed and the impasse is broken without further delay”.
ENDS.
FURTHER INFORMATION
- The four new cancer drugs are bevacizumab, sorafenib, sunitinib and temsirolimus
- The drugs are used to treat people with renal cell carcinoma
- Deadline for consultation was 29th August 2008
- An Appraisal Committee meeting will consider feedback on 10th September