Kadcyla’s rejection from NHS access
Responding to today’s decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) not to recommend NHS access in England to the targeted breast cancer drug trastuzumab emtansine (also known as Kadcyla), Emma Pennery, Clinical Director at Breast Cancer Care says:
“Kadcyla being rejected from routine NHS access will come as another devastating blow to women with HER-2 positive advanced breast cancer, denying them the chance of a longer and much better quality of life. Women affected by breast cancer share with us every day their profound anxiety around being able to get access to the treatments they need, on top of the already huge emotional burden of living with cancer.
“Access to best treatment and care for people with advanced breast cancer urgently needs addressing. Worryingly, almost every drug appraised by NICE in the last three years for this group of patients has been rejected. The Cancer Drugs Fund enables access to some drugs rejected by NICE but it’s clearly an inadequate solution being an England-only scheme and due to terminate in 2016.
“NICE, the Department of Health and the pharmaceutical industry must work together to identify a new way forward that takes into account both human and economic impact; drugs must be clinically effective and financially affordable, but their effectiveness must also be measured on the improved quality of life they offer. Until then, women with advanced breast cancer will continue to carry the burden of being denied access to drugs that could prolong and significantly enhance their life.”
Sophie Softley Pierce
Press & PR Officer, Campaigns, Policy and Services
020 7960 3505
Breast Cancer Care
5-13 Great Suffolk Street, London, SE1 0NS
Questions about breast cancer?
For all breast cancer or breast health concerns, call our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000 Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturdays 10am–2pm or email our Ask the Nurse service.
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