Mesothelioma drug decision is criticised
9:56am Tuesday 27th June 2006 in News
EXPERTS responsible for approving NHS treatments have been accused of putting money before patients after blocking the use of an anti-cancer drug.
New patients with the asbestos-linked cancer mesothelioma will no longer be offered the drug pemetrexed disodium, sold under the name Alimta.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) yesterday published its findings from a study into the cost and effectiveness of the drug.
The appraisal concluded that the drug would not be recommended for use except as part of ongoing or new trials.
Brigitte Chandler, one of the country's top legal experts on asbestos-related diseases, said it was an option that was being taken away from people diagnosed with the condition.
Mrs Chandler, of Swindon law firm Charles, Lucas and Marshall solicitors, said: "Obviously there are people in Swindon who develop mesothelioma and this was a possible option of treatment no longer available to them.
"It doesn't treat the condition but does potentially give a short extension of life.
"It is always a personal choice whether they want to take this drug. Some people are willing to try anything with this illness, some people are so desperate."
The other options available to people would be paying for it privately or pursuing a payment through the courts, she said.
"People who have a potential claim against a former employer can, where they are still alive, start proceedings in the courts and solicitors can make an application to the judge for an interim payment if there is a strong case of liability."
Professor Andrew Stephens, of the University of Birmingham, who chaired the panel behind the report, said the cost for each patient was about £8,000. He said there was not enough evidence that pemetrexed disodium, which was used with another anti-cancer drug, was better than cheaper treatments.
