Prostate cancer drug not found cost-effective

Taxotere which is the choice of drug for patients suffering from prostate cancer may not anymore have their choice to choose this drug as the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is of the view that the drug is very expensive and it does not have much effect on prostate cancer making it an expensive not so effective cancer drug.

Doctors who were using the drug feel that the drug had shown very good effect in reducing tumor burden in these patients and has definitely prolonged and improved the lives of prostate cancer patients.

John Neate, Prostate Cancer Charity said, "This decision is very bad news for men in Scotland. I urge the SMC to review its position as the drug is regarded by many doctors as the treatment of choice as Taxotere is the only drug proven through rigorous trials to offer improved survival and quality of life to men with prostate cancer at this stage of their illness.”

Cancer consultant David Dodds, Beatson Oncology Centre Glasgow said, "Taxotere not only gives advanced prostate cancer patients more time, it also offers them opportunity to live fuller, more active and less painful, lives.

Scottish Medicines Consortium said, "The SMC advises NHS boards and area drug and therapeutic committees (ADTCs) that docetaxel in combination with prednisolone is not recommended for use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of patients with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer (MHRPC)”.

Source: BBC News.