Proposed changes to the way the Cancer Drugs Fund is run in England are to go ahead so that, for the first time, the cost-effectiveness of medicines on the list will be evaluated, putting some at risk.

According to NHS England the shake-up of the current system - which has seen the CDF run over budget - will mean more effective and promising drugs will be prioritised and made available to patients.

But forty-two medicines - including six for breast cancer, six for colorectal cancer and six for lymphoma - now face being de-listed from the Fund, having been picked for re-evaluation because of their high price. Patients already taking these drugs are, however, being reassured their treatment will not be discontinued.

On the plus side, 12 new drugs now have a shot at being included on the list, including Eisai’s Halaven (eribulin) as a second line treatment of metastatic breast cancer, and Roche’s Avastin (bevacizumab) as a second line treatment for platinum resistant advanced ovarian cancer.

Since it was established in 2010, more than 55,000 patients have accessed treatment through the Fund. Caitlin Palframan, Senior Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said “it’s encouraging to see that changes are being made to improve the way that the CDF operates and make better use of the money available”.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/14-11-12/Costly_cancer_drugs_face_chop_from_CDF.aspx