Breast cancer drug rejected for use within NHS

A drug used to treat breast cancer has been rejected for use on the NHS due to its high cost.

The drug Kadcyla was rejected for use by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The drug is made by manufacturer Roche and costs £90,000 per patient.

NICE believes that the cost of the drug outweighs the benefits that it provides. On average Kadcyla extends the lives of patients by six to nine months and also dramatically improves the quality of life compared to other treatments.

Kadcyla was previously available through the old Cancer Drugs Fund, a fund set-up by the government to help people access drugs not directly available through the NHS.

However, the fund is now under the control by NICE, which is reevaluating how the money is spent.

Whilst the decision has provoked an outcry from cancer patients, NICE has stated that they are open to ideas from Roche to discover a way to make Kadcyla available. Earlier this morning Nice tweeted:

Speaking to the BBC, Richard Erwin, general manager for Roche UK, said: "This is not the end of the line for patients.

"We want to get back round the table with NICE to turn this preliminary decision around and ensure we all do the right thing for patients and their families."

Speaking to the Guardian, Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breast Cancer Now spoke out against the drug appraisal system and said: “This outcome also speaks volumes about a drug appraisal system that is just not working for metastatic breast cancer patients. This targeted drug is available in many other countries, including France, Germany, Australia and Canada, and it is nowhere near good enough that women in England will be denied such an effective option.”

The charity has also launched a petition to help keep the drug available. The charity highlighted the benefits of the drug, which can help prevent toxic side-effects such as sickness and diarrhoea.  

Whilst the news is upsetting for cancer patients, the drug will still be available through the Cancer Drugs Fund whilst NICE appraises its use within the NHS.

NICE’s appraisal committee will review Kadcyla to see if it should be funded on the NHS. The appraisal is open until 30 January.