No more excuses: we must have these lifesaving drugs

FIVE years ago this month, Dublin mother of three Cathy Durkin was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour behind her eye. Cathy’s eye was removed in an attempt to stop the melanoma cancer. Six months later, in December 2011, the cancer returned and at that point it had spread to her liver and hips. When chemotherapy had no effect, Cathy learned that a new miracle drug called Ipilimumab was available in Ireland at that time on compassionate trials.

Fortunately, one of the reasons Ireland was chosen for these drug trials was that the company which manufactured this blockbusting drug had been based here for over five decades.

Merck Sharp & Dohme employs more than 2,500 people in Ireland and has invested €2.2bn in the country over the last five decades.

Cathy Durkin and her family then started a national campaign to ensure that the new drug would be made available to the limited number of cancer sufferers who it could benefit.

Cathy’s campaign was ultimately successful. However the drug came too late for her and she passed away four years ago next month.

Now a follow-up drug to ‘Ippi’ has been developed by Merck Sharpe & Dohme, with much greater success rates.

Pembrolizumab and Nivolumab first came to international attention last year when the mayor of Melbourne Ron Walker, who had benefited from the new drugs, successfully appealed to his friend, the then Australian prime minister Tony Abbott, to make the drug available to cancer sufferers.

Here in Ireland, Professor John Crown, one of the country’s leading oncologists, is in no doubt that the drug should be immediately available to the roughly 100 people suffering the type of cancer the drugs were designed to treat.

He points out that the delay here was due to the effective absence of a Government since March.

Scathingly, he also pointed out that many European countries – including the bankrupt nation of Greece – have made the drug available.

Cancer sufferers and their families, already enduring unimaginable stress and pain, should not have to campaign publicly or be forced to engage in discussions on ‘what price is a life?’

Cystic fibrosis sufferers in Ireland have for too long had to engage in these debates.

The decision this week by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics not to fund Orkambi will lead to a public outcry and, given the current Dáil configuration, presents the Government with the prospect of another defeat.

The fact that Orkambi keeps cystic fibrosis sufferers out of hospital is a major saving in health spending. This life-saving drug, manufactured in Boston, must be made available, no ifs or buts!

We can negotiate a lower price – why not send Michael O’Leary out to thump the table?

Proportionately, there is no other population in the world who would benefit more from Orkambi than here in Ireland.

Merck Sharpe & Dohme has a good reputation in Ireland, where it has shown strong loyalty over 50 years.

The two wonder drugs it is responsible for creating must be made available in Ireland.