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Watchdog 'to reject cancer drug' NHS watchdog rejects cancer drug
(39 minutes later)
Bone cancer patients in England and Wales may be denied a life-extending drug available, which is in Scotland. Bone marrow cancer patients in England and Wales have been denied a life prolonging drug, available in Scotland.
Guidance from the NHS's drugs watchdog, due next week, is likely to say the same as its earlier draft - that more research is needed into Velcade. The NHS's drugs watchdog has released guidance which says Velcade's cost-effectiveness has not been proven and more research is needed.
Patients and health charities have condemned the proposals by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Patients and health charities have condemned the ruling by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Velcade slows the advance of myeloma - cancer of bone marrow plasma cells.Velcade slows the advance of myeloma - cancer of bone marrow plasma cells.
An announcement from NICE had not been expected until Tuesday, but it was brought forward after it was apparently leaked to the press.
Around 4,000 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK each year.Around 4,000 people are diagnosed with myeloma in the UK each year.
'Better than chemotherapy''Better than chemotherapy'
The charity, Myeloma UK, said no patient in the UK should die without having access to the drug.The charity, Myeloma UK, said no patient in the UK should die without having access to the drug.
A trial last year showed Velcade could extend the life expectancy of a patient by an average of six months more than standard treatment. Treatment costs about £18,000 per patient. A trial last year showed Velcade (bortezomib) could extend the life expectancy of a patient by an average of six months more than standard treatment. Treatment costs about £18,000 per patient.
The drug was approved for use in Scotland in 1994, where it is thought to be used as a last resort. The drug has been approved for use in Scotland, where it is thought to be used as a last resort.
The Daily Mail says it has seen a leaked ruling, which says the drug is more clinically effective than chemotherapy but is not regarded as "cost effective". The Daily Mail earlier reported that it had seen a leaked ruling, which said the drug was more clinically effective than chemotherapy but was not regarded as "cost effective".
Isn't three years of my life worth anything? Jacky PicklesIsn't three years of my life worth anything? Jacky Pickles
Jacky Pickles, 44, one of three women with bone cancer from Keighley in West Yorkshire, is campaigning to get the drug approved. Jacky Pickles, 44, one of three women with bone marrow cancer from Keighley in West Yorkshire, is campaigning to get the drug approved.
She said they will take the fight to court if necessary.
"If NICE is going to get away with not backing these drugs, then we will be stuck in the dark ages."If NICE is going to get away with not backing these drugs, then we will be stuck in the dark ages.
"Isn't three years of my life worth anything?""Isn't three years of my life worth anything?"
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the NHS had become a "Scottish and a separate English health service".Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the NHS had become a "Scottish and a separate English health service".
Quality of lifeQuality of life
NICE, which regulates primary care trusts in England and Wales, has come under repeated fire over its decisions not to fund drugs.NICE, which regulates primary care trusts in England and Wales, has come under repeated fire over its decisions not to fund drugs.
The final guidance for the use of Velcade is expected to be published on Tuesday. It would then be formally issued before the end of the year. The guidance will be formally issued before the end of the year.
Objectors however can appeal against their decision.Objectors however can appeal against their decision.
If reports are true, this represents probably the single biggest setback in the history of the treatment of myeloma Spokeswoman for Myeloma UKIf reports are true, this represents probably the single biggest setback in the history of the treatment of myeloma Spokeswoman for Myeloma UK
NICE said it would not comment on the leaked ruling, but said it may bring forward its publication. Andrea Sutcliffe, who led the appraisal for NICE, said the committee had considered comments received during consultation on an earlier draft and had not changed its conclusion.
A spokesman for the watchdog said expert advisors review all of the evidence on cancer treatments to determine whether they add benefits for patients when compared with other available treatments. "Although the drug is clinically effective compared with high dose dexamethasone, its cost-effectiveness has not been satisfactorily demonstrated and therefore further research is required."
"The benefits that we assess include whether a drug extends life, and whether a drug improves patients' quality of life. A NICE spokesman added: "NICE has appraised 26 cancer treatments to date, and we have recommended 25 of them for use by the NHS."
"NICE has appraised 26 cancer treatments to date, and we have recommended 25 of them for use by the NHS." A spokeswoman for Myeloma UK said: "This represents probably the single biggest setback in the history of the treatment of myeloma."
A spokeswoman for Myeloma UK said: "If reports are true, this represents probably the single biggest setback in the history of the treatment of myeloma."
She said the entire myeloma community, including Myeloma UK and the other charities involved in the appraisal, were devastated.She said the entire myeloma community, including Myeloma UK and the other charities involved in the appraisal, were devastated.
"Velcade is a proven and licensed treatment and, quite simply, no myeloma patient in the UK should die without having access to it.""Velcade is a proven and licensed treatment and, quite simply, no myeloma patient in the UK should die without having access to it."