Drug from cannabis is approved for use by NHS

SCOTLAND’S drugs watchdog has approved a cannabisbased medicine for the first time on the NHS.

Epidyolex will be made available for patients living with two rare types of epilepsy that cause frequent and debilitating seizures.

The drug is derived from cannabis but does not contain the substance that gives the drug its ‘high’.

Last night, patients’ groups welcomed the move.

The use of cannabis-derived medicines was given the go-ahead by the UK Home Office in 2018. Before that, anyone who wanted to use such a method would have had to purchase the drug illegally.

Epidyolex is approved by the Scottish Medicines Council (SMC) for patients with Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome – both forms of epilepsy that cause seizures so severe patients are left needing round-the-clock care.

Dravet Syndrome affects up to three out of every 500 children with epilepsy and Lennox-Gastaut

syndrome affects 4 per cent of children with the condition. The drug can reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, working as an anticonvulsant.

Galia Wilson, chair of the charity Dravet Syndrome UK, said: ‘The constant worry of potentially fatal seizures is both terrifying and exhausting for parents – their children need 24/7 monitoring.

‘Even small improvements in seizure control can mean significant benefits in quality of life, both for patients and their families.

‘We’re thrilled that SMC has recognised this and welcome their approach to giving patient groups a stronger voice in decision-making, especially around rare conditions such as Dravet Syndrome’.

The SMC also gave the green light for a breakthrough treatment for two of the hardest to treat cancers – the most common forms of kidney and head and neck cancer.

Patients’ groups hailed the decision to give sufferers Keytruda, which improves survival time. The drug is given on its own or in combination with other treatments to give extra months for those whose cancer has spread, by shrinking tumours.

Keytruda stimulates the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells.

Kidney Cancer Scotland’s health professional nurse Maureen Johnson said: ‘This is excellent news for kidney cancer patients in Scotland as trials showed significant improvement in survival and plays an important role in the treatment of kidney cancer. Our community has been closely watching developments and have been pleased to see approvals being given.

‘Now, people in Scotland will have access to the most effective treatment earlier.’

A total of 1,107 cases of kidcancer ney cancer were reported in Scotland in 2017 with around 400 deaths. Most people survive if it is caught at an early stage, but their chances are lower if it has spread.

Trials showed that Keytruda gave patients with head and neck cancer an extra two to three months’ survival on average compared to standard treatment.

It gave those with kidney an average of four months longer before their disease progressed, compared to those on standard treatment.

In Scotland, more than 1,000 cases of head and neck cancer are diagnosed each year with 474 deaths in 2018.

The SMC also approved lifechanging sight treatments.

One, Beovu, is an injection given for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration, a disease that can cause blindness.

The condition is caused by the growth of abnormal blood vessels. Beovu delays the progress of the disease.

Another, Iluvien, is a steroid implant that can treat the sight-damaging inflammatory condition non-infectious uveitis. SMC chairman Mark MacGregor said: ‘I’m delighted that the committee was able to accept these medicines for use by NHS Scotland.’ Good Health – Starts Page 36

‘Potentially fatal seizures’ ‘Pleased to see approvals’