Thousands of breast cancer patients to get ‘WONDER drug that extends life by up to two years’
THOUSANDS of breast cancer victims will be given a life-extending wonder drug for free.
The daily pill keeps tumours at bay for ten months longer than current treatments.
And for some women it has had much better results, helping them keep their illness at bay for two years.
Experts have described palbociclib as one of the most important advances in breast cancer treatment in decades.
But despite being cleared for use in the US, the UK health watchdog ruled in February that it was too expensive for NHS use.
Now maker Pfizer will provide it free for up to five months to eligible women while the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) reconsiders its draft decision.
Fiona Hazell, Director of Policy and Engagement at Breast Cancer Now, said: “This is an unexpected lifeline for thousands of women living with this type of breast cancer.
“We are delighted that Pfizer have listened to our campaigners and have found a way to enable patients to access this first-in-class drug in the short term.
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“We want all women who could benefit from this hugely promising drug to know that it should be available on the NHS.”
Campaigners also criticised the NHS drug appraisals systems as “not fit-for-purpose “.
Breast Cancer Now said: “Unless the flaws in the system are fixed, patients in England will struggle to access the best new breast cancer medicines.”
Around 55,000 women are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year – with around 11,000 dying.
Palbociclib – sold under the trade name Ibrance – is for women whose breast cancer is oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2 negative, and has spread around the body.
Around 6,000 a year would benefit from the drug, which costs £79,650 price for a typical course.
Dr Nicholas Turner, from the Institute of Cancer Research, who led the clinical trial on the drug described it as “one of the most important advances in treating the most common type of breast cancer in 20 years”.
(It is) one of the most important advances in treating the most common type of breast cancer in 20 years
Dr Nicholas Turner
Pfizer has agreed women who are offered the drug during the free period will not be taken off it if it is rejected for NHS use again. They will be able to continue to receive it for the duration of their treatment.
A spokesman for the drug firm said: “Pfizer believes women with metastatic breast cancer deserve access as soon as possible to this innovative medicine.
“Pfizer has made the decision, in this instance, to provide palbociclib free-of-charge whilst the appraisal process continues.”
BREAST CANCER PATIENT WELCOMES THE NEWS
Sun Sports Writer Vikki Orvice, 54, received palbociclib as part of a clinical trial for almost two years.
She said: “It is such good news that other women could now receive this ground-breaking drug in the interim.
“This fantastic drug gave me two years without my cancer progressing, with minimum side-effects.
"It allowed me to continue working full-time at a national newspaper, even covering the Olympics in Rio, and to lead a relatively normal life.
“I truly believe that all eligible patients deserve access to it too.
"Living with metastatic cancer can be challenging enough, and for some patients time really is of the essence – particularly when drugs like this can make such a difference.”
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