Life-extending lung cancer drug approved

[Northerner]

A life-extending lung cancer drug will be made immediately available to NHS patients in England, say advisers.

Campaigners, including the late Sunday Times restaurant critic AA Gill, have repeatedly called for access to the pioneering immunotherapy, which can add months to life.

Scotland already offers nivolumab to people with advanced disease who have also tried chemotherapy.

England's drugs watchdog had originally said nivolumab was too expensive.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41318417

 

[mikeyB]

NICE shamed by Scotland into making an extended life available to folk who aren't rich. It's not the greatest extension to life, but who has the right to make a judgement that it's not worth it?

 

[Amigo]

NICE shamed by Scotland into making an extended life available to folk who aren't rich. It's not the greatest extension to life, but who has the right to make a judgement that it's not worth it?

I absolutely agree Mike and have been caught up in these battles myself. Realistically though, these and the meds I may need can be monstrously expensive and I sincerely hope Scotland can continue to afford to fund them.
I understand the drug companies need to claw back the massive research investment but once trialled, tested and approved, many are just prohibitively expensive. Ibrutinib for leukaemia is presently around £120,000 a year per patient indefinitely.