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| Bone drug too costly, says NICE | Bone drug too costly, says NICE |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A drug for treating rare blood cancers will not be made available through the NHS in England and Wales. | |
| The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has decided not to recommend azacitidine or Vidaza for treating myelodysplastic syndromes because it is too costly. | The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has decided not to recommend azacitidine or Vidaza for treating myelodysplastic syndromes because it is too costly. |
| Cancer charities say they are angered and disappointed by the decision. | Cancer charities say they are angered and disappointed by the decision. |
| Around four in 100,000 people in the UK suffer from MDS - a debilitating bone marrow disease. | Around four in 100,000 people in the UK suffer from MDS - a debilitating bone marrow disease. |
| Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) mean that the bone marrow does not produce enough of one or more types of blood cells. | Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) mean that the bone marrow does not produce enough of one or more types of blood cells. |
| Most MDS patients have to rely on frequent blood transfusions to manage anaemia and extreme fatigue. | Most MDS patients have to rely on frequent blood transfusions to manage anaemia and extreme fatigue. |
| The average survival of patients with MDS is about 20 months. Nearly a third of patients progress to acute myeloid leukaemia. | The average survival of patients with MDS is about 20 months. Nearly a third of patients progress to acute myeloid leukaemia. |
| NICE says that the majority of patients with MDS receive the best care in current clinical practice. | NICE says that the majority of patients with MDS receive the best care in current clinical practice. |
| Not a cure | Not a cure |
| Dr Carole Longson is health technology evaluation centre director at NICE. She said that azacitidine is not a cure for MDS but could potentially prolong the lives of people with these conditions by around nine months longer than standard treatment. | Dr Carole Longson is health technology evaluation centre director at NICE. She said that azacitidine is not a cure for MDS but could potentially prolong the lives of people with these conditions by around nine months longer than standard treatment. |
| However she stated: "The Appraisal Committee concluded that relative to the benefits, the price the NHS is being asked to pay for azacitidine is still too high for it to be recommended as a cost effective use of NHS resources." | However she stated: "The Appraisal Committee concluded that relative to the benefits, the price the NHS is being asked to pay for azacitidine is still too high for it to be recommended as a cost effective use of NHS resources." |
| David Hall is an MDS patient and chairman of the MDS UK Patient Support Group. He said the decision was a huge blow to MDS patients. | David Hall is an MDS patient and chairman of the MDS UK Patient Support Group. He said the decision was a huge blow to MDS patients. |
| "A total of only 700 patients a year in England and Wales would require treatment with azacitidine so we do not believe that providing this life-extending treatment would make a huge impact on the NHS budget," he said. | "A total of only 700 patients a year in England and Wales would require treatment with azacitidine so we do not believe that providing this life-extending treatment would make a huge impact on the NHS budget," he said. |
| The manufacturer of the drug, Celgene UK, has announced that it plans to appeal NICE's draft guidance ruling. | The manufacturer of the drug, Celgene UK, has announced that it plans to appeal NICE's draft guidance ruling. |
| According to the manufacturer's estimates, azacitidine costs approximately £45,000 per patient. | According to the manufacturer's estimates, azacitidine costs approximately £45,000 per patient. |