This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/health/8367614.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Liver cancer drug 'too expensive' | Liver cancer drug 'too expensive' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A drug that can prolong the lives of patients with advanced liver cancer has been rejected for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | A drug that can prolong the lives of patients with advanced liver cancer has been rejected for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the cost of Nexavar - about £3,000 a month - was "simply too high". | The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the cost of Nexavar - about £3,000 a month - was "simply too high". |
| But Macmillan Cancer Support said the decision was "a scandal". | But Macmillan Cancer Support said the decision was "a scandal". |
| More than 3,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer every year in the UK and their prognosis is generally poor. | More than 3,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer every year in the UK and their prognosis is generally poor. |
| Only about 20% of patients are alive one year after diagnosis, dropping to just 5% after five years. | Only about 20% of patients are alive one year after diagnosis, dropping to just 5% after five years. |
| 'Disappointed' | 'Disappointed' |
| Nexavar - also known as sorafenib - had already been rejected in Scotland, despite studies showing it could extend the life of a liver cancer patient by up to six months. | |
| The Scottish Medicines Consortium ruled that "the manufacturer's justification of the treatment's cost in relation to its benefit was not sufficient to gain acceptance". | The Scottish Medicines Consortium ruled that "the manufacturer's justification of the treatment's cost in relation to its benefit was not sufficient to gain acceptance". |
| Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, agreed: "The price being asked by [the manufacturer] Bayer is simply too high to justify using NHS money which could be spent on better value cancer treatments." | Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, agreed: "The price being asked by [the manufacturer] Bayer is simply too high to justify using NHS money which could be spent on better value cancer treatments." |
| Nexavar is routinely offered to cancer patients elsewhere in the world, and Mike Hobday, head of campaigns at Macmillan Cancer Support, said he was "extremely disappointed" at NICE's decision. | Nexavar is routinely offered to cancer patients elsewhere in the world, and Mike Hobday, head of campaigns at Macmillan Cancer Support, said he was "extremely disappointed" at NICE's decision. |
| "It is a scandal that the only licensed drug proven to significantly prolong the lives of people with this devastating disease has been rejected, leaving them with no treatment options," he said. | "It is a scandal that the only licensed drug proven to significantly prolong the lives of people with this devastating disease has been rejected, leaving them with no treatment options," he said. |
| Earlier this year, a government review of end-of-life treatment said NICE should give extra weight to drugs that could extend a patient's life. | Earlier this year, a government review of end-of-life treatment said NICE should give extra weight to drugs that could extend a patient's life. |
| The Department of Health said NICE was not ignoring that recommendation, but the NHS could not just pay for any drug at any cost. | The Department of Health said NICE was not ignoring that recommendation, but the NHS could not just pay for any drug at any cost. |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can send us your experiences using the form below: | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |