A body that is responsible for approving NHS treatments has been accused of placing money before patients, after it blocked the usage of an anti-cancer drug.
Patients suffering from cancer linked to asbestos will not be treated with the drug Alimta, whose scientific name is pemetrexed disodium, after a study conducted by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).The group analyzed the cost effectiveness of the drug, used to treat the cancer mesothelioma, and concluded that the drug would not be recommended for use except as part of ongoing or new.trial.
Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that affects the lung lining and nine out of ten cases are due to exposure to asbestos. People who are involved in shipbuilding, railway engineering and asbestos product manufacturing are at an increased risk.
. A cure for the disease is not available and pemetrexed disodium treatment is used to maintain the quality of life.
The makers of the drug, Eli Lilly, said it will appeal against the decision.
Medical director of Lilly UK, Dr Joanna Nakielny, said: "This is a major blow for patients with mesothelioma, many of whom were unwittingly exposed to asbestos in their working lives making submarines, ships, boilers and trains”.
"This treatment does not save lives, but it can prolong the lives of patients and also improve the quality of the time they have left. Lilly will be formally appealing NICE’s decision." She added.
