Macmillan Cancer Support's response to NICE's decision to reject advanced kidney cancer drug

Responding to the decision by NICE not to recommend Everolimus as a treatment for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (advanced kidney cancer), Mike Hobday, Head of Policy at Macmillan Cancer Support, said:

'This is frustrating news, especially as cancer patients have already been denied four treatments for advanced kidney cancer by NICE.

'Everyone should get the clinically effective drugs their doctor recommends, regardless of what type of cancer they have. Yet people with rarer cancers aren’t being given access to the treatments their doctors believe will improve the quality and length of their life.

'We believe that the Government’s Cancer Drugs Fund in England, established at £50 million this financial year and £200 million next year will work towards addressing this issue. But Macmillan wants the Government to ensure that the new fund includes a focus on treatments for rarer cancers, so that the NHS will support patients whatever cancer they have. We want NHS support to be fair and equal.'

To make this a reality, it’s absolutely vital that the Government’s Cancer Drugs Fund supports people living with rarer cancers. To achieve this, we need the public’s help. We’re urging people to add their name to our online petition at www.macmillan.org.uk/cancerdrugs| and forward this link to their friends and family.

Together, we can help people with rarer cancers get the treatment they need.

Ends

For further information, please contact:

Julie Wills, PR Officer (Assistant), Macmillan Cancer Support

020 7840 4933 (Out of hours 07801 307 068)

Notes to Editors:

[1] In August 2009, NICE rejected the following kidney cancer drugs for the treatment of advanced and/or metastatic renal cell carcinoma:

• bevacizumab, trade name Avastin, for first-line treatment
• sorafenib, trade name Nexavar, for first and second-line treatment
• sunitinib, trade name Sutent, for second-line treatment (only accepted as first line)
• temsirolimus, trade name Torisel, for first-line treatment.

About Macmillan Cancer Support  

Macmillan Cancer Support improves the lives of people affected by cancer, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support. Working alongside people affected by cancer, Macmillan works to improve cancer care. One in three of us will get cancer. Two million of us are living with it. If you are affected by cancer Macmillan can help