Cancer patients win drug concession (From Oxford Mail)

Cancer patients win drug concession

7:03pm Friday 13th February 2009

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Campaigners claimed another victory tonight after Oxfordshire health officials agreed to prescribe cancer patients a life-extending drug – before the NHS’s drug-approvals body gives it the official thumbs-up.

Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust made the decision after the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence announced Sunitnib should be routinely prescribed as a first-line treatment for kidney cancer 10 days ago.

PCT spokesman Clare Clayton said: “We have asked consultants to review the clinical details of all patients with advanced kidney cancer to identify patients’ clinical need and priority for treatment, under the new Nice guidelines.

“I’m pleased to confirm that we will fund Sunitinib for some patients, on an individual request, before final Nice guidance is published.”

Originally, the PCT said its policy of only prescribing Sunitinib in “exceptional circumstances” would continue until Nice published its final guidance at the end of next month.

The latest announcement comes after an intensive period of campaigning by cancer sufferers in Oxfordshire.

Kidney cancer patient Clive Stone, 61, from Freeland, near Witney, said: “It’s great news. It’s another victory for our campaign.”

Mr Stone set up the Oxfordshire group Justice for Kidney Cancer Patients to fight draft guidance issued by Nice, last August, ruling Sunitinib was too expensive for prescription on the NHS.

Last August, Mr Stone and campaigners hired a coach from Oxford to protest outside Nice’s headquarters in London.

On February 4, Nice overturned its decision after manufacturer Pfizer offered to make it cheaper.

Nice also took into account new rules requiring greater funding for expensive drugs that can help terminally-ill patients.

In addition, Mr Stone and fellow kidney cancer sufferers and their families have been fighting Oxfordshire PCT’s policy of not routinely prescribing Sunitinib while Nice debates whether to order it to be prescribed on the NHS.

To date, only four out of 31 requests for the drug in Oxfordshire have been successful.

Following Nice’s U-turn, Mr Stone wrote to the PCT demanding the drug be made available without further delay.

In her response, Oxfordshire PCT chief executive Andrea Young applauded the efforts of a campaign group in successfully lobbying Nice to change its policy.

Ms Young wrote: “I am delighted for you personally and commend the huge effort you have personally put into the policy change.”

Mr Stone said: “It was a nice letter to receive.”

Sunitinib costs £3,300 every six weeks.

The PCT, which is not legally required to routinely prescribe the drug until June, predicts it will cost £1m in the first year to fund the drug in Oxfordshire for all kidney cancer sufferers.

tshepherd@oxfordmail.co.uk

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