NHS watchdog rejects life-extending breast cancer drug

A breast cancer drug which has been shown to boost the survival chances for women with high-risk, early-stage breast cancer who have mutations on the BRCA1 or 2 genes, is set to be rejected for use on the NHS.

 

Studies have shown that olaparib cuts the risk of these patients dying by a third, but the daily pill has been rejected by NICE on the grounds it is not as cost effective as routine surveillance.

 

The drug is already licensed as a treatment for some patients with advanced ovarian, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

 

Experts had welcomed its licensing after trials found it was especially effective against BRCA mutations, exploiting a genetic weakness in the cancer cells.  However, drugs watchdog NICE said in draft guidance it would not recommend the treatment for use on the NHS.

 

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said the decision could be a death sentence to some women, adding “Around 5-10 per cent of women with breast cancer carry an inherited altered gene – of which the BRCA 1 and 2 genes are the most common.

 

“Sadly, some people with high-risk, HER2 negative, primary breast cancer with an altered BRCA gene may see their cancer return following treatment.

 

“Olaparib holds the potential to reduce the risk of a patient’s cancer returning or progressing to incurable secondary breast cancer, and to save people dying from this devastating disease.”

 

Draft guidance issued by NICE, said it did not recommend olaparib for adults with HER2-negative, high-risk early breast cancer with BRCA1 or 2 mutations who have already had treatment with chemotherapy prior to or following surgery.

 

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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