Drug is approved for rare tumour

A drug that can improve quality of life for patients with a rare form of tumour has been approved for use on the NHS in Scotland.

The treatment Xermelo – also known as telotristat ethyl – can reduce diarrhoea which can be a side effect of neuroendocrine tumours.

Tumours in the endocrine system can disrupt patients’ hormone production, with an excess of serotonin resulting in a range of symptoms, including diarrhoea, flushing, wheezing and cardiac damage.