Drug to stop breast cancer recurring banned on NHS
Medicines body rejects application for post-surgery Perjeta
THE hopes of Scots breast cancer patients were dashed yesterday when they were denied a drug that could prevent the disease returning.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) rejected an application for the drug Perjeta to be made free on the NHS to all those who need it. Perjeta was approved in Scotland last year as a first-time treatment for HER2positive breast cancer and as an end-oflife drug for metastasised disease. It followed a campaign by charity Breast Cancer Now and the Daily Record.
But the third use of the drug – as an after-surgery treatment to prevent recurrence in high-risk patients – was not considered at the same time.
Yesterday, the SMC turned down drug manufacturer Roche’s application for use in these cases – despite its availability across the rest of the UK.
Paula McIntyre, who is one of those considered “high risk”, earlier this year appealed to the SMC to approve the drug.
The 43-year-old mum, from Dalkeith, Midlothian, who will have a double mastectomy later this month, had four rounds of Perjeta before her first op. But she needed more afterwards to help prevent the cancer returning.
Paula was fortunate that her employer’s health insurance covered the cost but said she is disappointed other women who do not have the benefit of private medical care have been denied the drug.
She added: “I know the campaigning will continue until it is finally approved and I will do anything I can to campaign for other women to get it.
“People are sitting on the SMC playing God with people’s lives.”
Richard Erwin, of Roche, said the company was “frustrated and disappointed” by the SMC’s decision. He added: “Roche is committed to finding a solution to ensure that access is granted as soon as possible. “We will meet the SMC this week to discuss the reasons why the medicine was declined and make a decision on our next steps from there.”
There was some good news for a small group of breast cancer patients, however, as the SMC did approve Decapeptyl for use in pre-menopausal women with primary hormone receptor positive breast cancer.