Red Tape Denies Cancer Patients 23 Vital Drugs
Posted on: Wednesday, 21 September 2005, 18:00 CDT
THOUSANDS of cancer patients are being denied potentially lifesaving drugs because of red tape, it emerged yesterday.
Some will have to wait up to three years before getting drugs which are licensed but not yet approved for use in the Health Service, according to a report by the charity Cancer BACUP.
The report details 23 drugs snarled up in bureaucratic delays and calls for reform to speed up the approval process, which the charity fears is costing lives.
Cancer BACUP chief executive Joanne Rule said: 'Reform of the current system is a life-and-death issue for cancer patients.
'It is heartbreaking for the nurses on our helpline to have to tell callers new treatments will not be available on the NHS for several years.
'For many, the delays mean treatments will not be available in time to help them.' The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is responsible for 'rationing' NHS treatments.
NICE blames cuts of Pounds 3.5million in Government funding for delays in the assessment of new drugs.
Among treatments awaiting assessment are drugs for cancers of the breast, colon, bone marrow, lung, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and brain tumours.
The list includes Arimidex, a breast cancer drug for postmenopausal women that is 25 per cent more effective than the current treatment.
Patients in Scotland can get the drug after approval last week by the Scottish Medicines Consortium the equivalent of NICE north of the border.
But a decision by NICE for the NHS in England is not due for another 15 months.
Another treatment Mabthera, for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma will be delayed for three years, while Erbitux, for advanced colorectal cancer, will not be assessed for 30 months.
A similar problem with bowel cancer drug Xeloda means around 7,000 patients who could have taken a pill at home will suffer expensive, unpleasant hospital treatment instead.
It is estimated Xeloda could have saved the NHS Pounds 22million before its anticipated approval in May next year.
NICE has been heavily criticised by a number of charities
THE BACKLOG
Chemotherapy-induced anaemia: Aranesp, Eprex, Neorocormon Eloxatin Breast cancer:
Arimidex, Aromasin, Femara, Taxotere, Taxol, Gemzar Colorectal cancer: Xeloda, Campto, Avastin, Erbitux, Velcade Bone marrow cancer: Prostate cancer: Taxotere Low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Mabthera Lung cancer: Alimta (pemetrexed), Alimta (pemetrexed disodium), Tarceva High-grade glioma (brain tumour): Gliadel implants Newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas: Temodal Recurrent brain tumour: Gliadel implant
Source: Daily Mail; London (UK)
Related Articles
- Some Cancer Drugs Bad for Heart Patients
- ProMetic Reports Positive Cancer Drug Research
- Ovarian Cancer Drug Combination Identified at Rational Therapeutics Receives FDA Approval; Researchers Utilized Human Tumor Microspheroid Platform to Identify Novel Platin Plus Gemcitabine Combination for Ovarian Cancer in 1995
- U.S. Gives a Second Life to a Major Cancer Drug Green Light for Genentech and Biogen
- Cancer Drug Rituxan Approved As Arthritis Treatment
- Cancer Drug OK'd As Arthritis Treatment
- Study Results Positive for New Cancer Drug Therapy for Prostate Patients
- Patient Deaths Decline in Early Studies of New Cancer Drugs More-Targeted Drugs, More Emphasis on Patient Safety Cited in Minimizing Risk
- Study Shows Patient Deaths Have Declined in Early Studies of New Cancer Drugs
- Bayer: Kidney Cancer Drug Offers Hope for Patients and Pipeline
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds