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05/10/2005
Breast cancer drug to be fast-tracked
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced that all breast cancer sufferers will have the opportunity to be treated with the drug, Herceptin.
From Wednesday, all women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will have the opportunity to be treated with the drug, which is currently only used on patients with advanced breast cancer or those who are terminally ill.
Ms Hewitt said that Herceptin could save around 1,000 lives per year at an annual cost of around £100 million.
The announcement comes two days after former nurse, Barbara Clark, won her battle to receive Herceptin treatment on the NHS.
She had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but could not receive the treatment because the disease was not terminal.
The National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards is meeting the medical directors of the NHS Cancer Networks on Thursday to discuss the introduction of the new testing service.
Last month, pharmaceutical company, Roche, which manufactures Herceptin, said that an application for a licence for the drug would be made to the European Medicines MEA in February 2006. They anticipated that a decision would be made by July 2006 at the earliest.
Ms Hewitt said that as soon as the license was received the drug would be fast-tracked throughout the NHS. She said: “Herceptin has the potential to save many women's lives and I want to see it in widespread use on the NHS. Today, I am asking Professor Mike Richards to ensure that the facilities are put in place to enable women who require it to be tested. I want the licence for Herceptin to be granted as quickly as possible, without compromising people's safety, and to be available within weeks of the licence being given.
“I share the huge frustration of many women about the delays in getting Herceptin licensed. I am determined to take action, and this represents a major step forward in our fight against cancer.”
(KMcA/SP)
From Wednesday, all women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will have the opportunity to be treated with the drug, which is currently only used on patients with advanced breast cancer or those who are terminally ill.
Ms Hewitt said that Herceptin could save around 1,000 lives per year at an annual cost of around £100 million.
The announcement comes two days after former nurse, Barbara Clark, won her battle to receive Herceptin treatment on the NHS.
She had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, but could not receive the treatment because the disease was not terminal.
The National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards is meeting the medical directors of the NHS Cancer Networks on Thursday to discuss the introduction of the new testing service.
Last month, pharmaceutical company, Roche, which manufactures Herceptin, said that an application for a licence for the drug would be made to the European Medicines MEA in February 2006. They anticipated that a decision would be made by July 2006 at the earliest.
Ms Hewitt said that as soon as the license was received the drug would be fast-tracked throughout the NHS. She said: “Herceptin has the potential to save many women's lives and I want to see it in widespread use on the NHS. Today, I am asking Professor Mike Richards to ensure that the facilities are put in place to enable women who require it to be tested. I want the licence for Herceptin to be granted as quickly as possible, without compromising people's safety, and to be available within weeks of the licence being given.
“I share the huge frustration of many women about the delays in getting Herceptin licensed. I am determined to take action, and this represents a major step forward in our fight against cancer.”
(KMcA/SP)
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