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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Green light for bowel cancer drug | Green light for bowel cancer drug |
| (2 days later) | |
| Campaigners have hailed a decision to give NHS approval for a drug which can extend life expectancy for people with advanced bowel cancer. | Campaigners have hailed a decision to give NHS approval for a drug which can extend life expectancy for people with advanced bowel cancer. |
| The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) reversed a previous decision to block NHS use of Erbitux on cost effectiveness grounds. | The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) reversed a previous decision to block NHS use of Erbitux on cost effectiveness grounds. |
| It follows an agreement by maker Merck to cut the price of the drug by 16%. | It follows an agreement by maker Merck to cut the price of the drug by 16%. |
| Erbitux will now be offered to some patients whose cancer has spread to their liver. | Erbitux will now be offered to some patients whose cancer has spread to their liver. |
| We hope that this positive ruling by NICE heralds a new era in the treatment of the disease Ian BeaumontBowel Cancer UK | We hope that this positive ruling by NICE heralds a new era in the treatment of the disease Ian BeaumontBowel Cancer UK |
| It is estimated that 2,000 patients in the UK could benefit. | It is estimated that 2,000 patients in the UK could benefit. |
| However, the drug will only be approved for patients who have already undergone surgery, and whose disease has spread to the liver, but nowhere else. | However, the drug will only be approved for patients who have already undergone surgery, and whose disease has spread to the liver, but nowhere else. |
| Patients must also be unable to tolerate another drug, oxaliplatin, and they will only receive Erbitux for a maximum of 16 weeks. | Patients must also be unable to tolerate another drug, oxaliplatin, and they will only receive Erbitux for a maximum of 16 weeks. |
| Erbitux works in around 60% of the two-thirds of bowel cancer patients who have a cancer gene called K-RAS wild type. | Erbitux works in around 60% of the two-thirds of bowel cancer patients who have a cancer gene called K-RAS wild type. |
| Those who do respond to the drug can expect to live for an average of two years after starting treatment. | Those who do respond to the drug can expect to live for an average of two years after starting treatment. |
| Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. More than 100 people every day are diagnosed with the disease. | Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK. More than 100 people every day are diagnosed with the disease. |
| Value for money | Value for money |
| Professor Peter Littlejohns, NICE's clinical and public health director, said Merck's offer to cut the price of Erbitux meant that it now provided good value for money. | Professor Peter Littlejohns, NICE's clinical and public health director, said Merck's offer to cut the price of Erbitux meant that it now provided good value for money. |
| Ciaran Devane, of Macmillan Cancer Support, said he was delighted by the news. | Ciaran Devane, of Macmillan Cancer Support, said he was delighted by the news. |
| He said: "Although it can only be used in certain cases, it is good news for patients as this treatment could potentially extend and improve the quality of their lives. | He said: "Although it can only be used in certain cases, it is good news for patients as this treatment could potentially extend and improve the quality of their lives. |
| "We hope this drug will be swiftly made available to all those who could benefit from it." | "We hope this drug will be swiftly made available to all those who could benefit from it." |
| Hilary Whittaker, of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer said research had shown that Erbitux could shrink secondary liver tumours enough so that they could be removed by surgery. | Hilary Whittaker, of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer said research had shown that Erbitux could shrink secondary liver tumours enough so that they could be removed by surgery. |
| She said Erbitux, and similar drugs, were available as a matter of course in other European countries . | She said Erbitux, and similar drugs, were available as a matter of course in other European countries . |
| "Patients in the UK want to be treated on an equal footing and expect the NHS to continue to care for them towards the end of their life." | "Patients in the UK want to be treated on an equal footing and expect the NHS to continue to care for them towards the end of their life." |
| Ian Beaumont, of the charity Bowel Cancer UK, welcomed the NICE decision. | Ian Beaumont, of the charity Bowel Cancer UK, welcomed the NICE decision. |
| "We hope that this positive ruling by NICE heralds a new era in the treatment of the disease." | "We hope that this positive ruling by NICE heralds a new era in the treatment of the disease." |
| Erbitux is a member of a class of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies. | Erbitux is a member of a class of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies. |
| They are designed to target cancer cells for destruction without damaging normal cells. | They are designed to target cancer cells for destruction without damaging normal cells. |
| They work by recognising proteins that are found on the surface of cancer cells. | |
| Thousands of terminally ill patients suffering from cancer of the blood will receive life-extending treatment after a landmark pricing deal between a drug manufacturer and the NHS. | Thousands of terminally ill patients suffering from cancer of the blood will receive life-extending treatment after a landmark pricing deal between a drug manufacturer and the NHS. |
| It is not the first time that NICE has approved a drug after striking a deal on cost with the manufacturers. | It is not the first time that NICE has approved a drug after striking a deal on cost with the manufacturers. |
| Other drugs which have been giving the go ahead in similar circumstances include the multiple myeloma therapy Revlimid, and Lucentis, used to treat the eye disorder age-related macular degeneration. | Other drugs which have been giving the go ahead in similar circumstances include the multiple myeloma therapy Revlimid, and Lucentis, used to treat the eye disorder age-related macular degeneration. |