Cancer drug maker does U-turn over kids funding
A DRUGS firm has caved in and agreed to continue funding treatment for cancer-stricken children.
Parents feared groundbreaking £150,000 Dinutuximab beta would be stopped halfway through courses after a wrangle with the NHS over money.
The maker is scrapping free medication for future patients – but those partway through believed they was also in jeopardy.
EUSA Pharma is debating with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence whether the NHS should pay for it.
Isita Hamilton, six, has had two of the five cycles needed and her family said she is responding well.
Dad John, 47, feared her treatment faced the axe.
But the 47-year-old, from Notting Hill, West London, said last night he was “thrilled” the drugs firm had “backed down”.
The firm rowed back after the Mirror asked questions yesterday.
Chief executive Lee Morley said: “We will fund through to treatment completion, if no other funding routes are available, any patient already commenced treatment.”