Drugs appeal names released

Nov 26 2007 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

NORTH-EAST campaigners have backed an appeal hearing held to decide whether to extend a life-prolonging cancer drug to a wider number of patients on the NHS.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) held the hearing after it received two appeals against its draft guidance for chemotherapy drug Alimta.

The drug, developed on Tyneside, has been found to give extra time to patients with asbestos-related mesothelioma.

Nice received two mystery appeals against its draft guidance in July to fund the drug for patients with advanced mesothelioma who could not have surgery.

Now details of those appeals have been released.

The Royal College of Physicians is appealing against the decision by Nice on the grounds that they are denying the drug to patients who have had surgery, and wish to see them included. The campaign in the North-East to make Alimta available on the NHS was led by Arthur Tiffin, 53, of North Walbottle, who died from mesothelioma in summer.

His son Steve yesterday welcomed the chance for more patients to have the drug funded on the NHS.

“They are appealing in the right way and I would like to see it extended to other patients,” he said.

A decision will not be made for another six weeks and Mr Tiffin hopes the local NHS will fund the drug in the meantime.

The second appeal was from Birmingham East and North Primary Care Trust which believes that Alimta does not fall within the special criteria for funding drugs over a £30,000 threshold as it does not give a health gain but simply stabilises the condition of the patient.

Arthur’s wife Cora said: “Alimta can give these patients longer but who knows what other treatments could develop in that time? Alimta could give them that chance.”

Nice initially ruled against the use of Alimta across the NHS. But following an appeal by manufacturers Eli Lilly, it agreed to carry out a review of the evidence.

A two-year campaign was backed by founder of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, Chris Knighton, and asbestos compensation claims specialists Thompsons Solicitors.

Mrs Knighton, of Wallsend, who founded the fund when she lost her husband to the disease, said: “Hundreds of mesothelioma patients across the country have been in limbo for more than two years and it is time they received an answer.”

Ian McFall, head of asbestos policy at Thompsons Solicitors said: “The last thing people suffering from this terrible illness need is more uncertainty.”