A look at the future treatment of rarer cancers

Key issues

 

 

Cancer Research UK’s Director of Policy, Sarah Woolnough, the charity’s stratified medicines programme.

The session opened with Dr Michael Williams explaining to delegates the startling advances in targeted radiotherapy. Dr Williams explained the advantages this would have for patients in dramatically reducing the after affects of treatment and how this could benefit 30% of cancer patients. He informed delegates of the need to ensure roll-out of IMRT and the issues around variations in the cost of treatment for IMRT and how this would be resolved with the introduction of a set tariff.

Delegates then received a presentation from Cancer Research UK’s Director of Policy, Sarah Woolnough, on the charity’s stratified medicines programme. She discussed the collaborative work that Cancer Research UK is doing with the Department of Health, Technology Strategy Board, and the pharmaceutical industry, to position the UK at the forefront of the development of stratified medicines.

Delegates also heard about a recent survey conducted by Cancer Research UK to find out about the patient perspective on value. The short survey received 147 responses from patients who said they value treatments with reduced side effects and those that improve quality of life. 

Rachel Rowson went on to inform delegates that the Rarer Cancers Foundation will be further developing their position on the new pricing model in early 2012, but in the interim they will be calling on the Government to ensure value-based pricing reflects what matters to patients and push for results in rapid and consistent access to effective cancer drugs.