25 August 2015 - Medical experts are slamming a decision by NHS cost regulators that restricts use of Ariad’s Iclusig in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia in England while patients in Scotland and Wales get full access to the novel drug.

Iclusig (ponatinib hydrochloride) was cleared in Europe in 2013 as an orphan drug considered to offer a significant benefit to patients. However, it was not appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence because of its small target population, leaving the decision on access with the Cancer Drugs Fund, which says it can only be given to patients with the rare T315I mutation, representing about 2%-20% of CML patients.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/15-08-25/Experts_call_for_equal_access_to_CML_therapies_in_the_UK.aspx