Posted by Michael Wonder on 12 Sep 2021
NHS lung cancer patients in England get early access to ‘breakthrough’ cancer drug
10 September 2021 - The MHRA has approved a first-of-its-kind cancer drug – capable of targeting a gene mutation that causes some of the most aggressive cancers – to treat a certain form of lung cancer.
The ground-breaking decision follows a 40 year hunt for a drug that can tackle a mutation long considered to be ‘undruggable’.
The medicine will be available for NHS use within weeks after NHS England, NICE and manufacturer Amgen reached an agreement to enable early access to eligible lung cancer patients in England on a budget neutral basis to the NHS, as NICE completes its on-going assessment.
Final NICE guidance is expected in March 2022. NICE decisions are usually adopted in Wales and Northern Ireland, while Scotland has a separate process for reviewing drugs.
