Treatments under scrutiny

DRUG: Everolimus for breast cancer COSTS: £18,293 for an average 5.5-month course MADE by Novartis, sold under the trade name Afinitor. Approved by the EMA in 2012 without survival data or quality of life data. 1,500 women a year are thought to be eligible. Moved on to routine provision through NICE in 2016. Trials show it stops the cancer spreading for an average of four months.

DRUG: Bosutinib for chronic myeloid leukaemia

COSTS: £ 5,000 a year MADE by Pfizer under the name Bosulif. Approved by EMA in 2013 with no evidence it extended life. 80 patients a year are thought to get it on the NHS. Up to 85 per cent of patients see white blood cells return to normal levels. DRUG: Panitumumab for bowel cancer COSTS: £5 ,000 a year MADE by Amgen and sold under the trade name Vectibix. Approved by the EMA in 2011, initially with no evidence it extended life. 8 NHS patients a year are thought to benefit. Made routinely available by NICE in 2017. More recent data suggests it boosts survival by ten months more than other treatments. DRUG: Bevacizumab for breast cancer COSTS: £ 2,000 a year MADE by Roche, Sold under the trade name Avastin. Approved by the EMA in 2009, with no evidence it extended life. Not available on the NHS. Previously available on the Cancer Drugs Fund but cut in 2015. Trials show it stops the progression of the disease for an average of three months.