Mesothelioma Sufferers to Lobby Parliament for Treatment
17th October 2-4pm, Meeting Grimond Room Portcullis
House
Mesothelioma sufferers and their families will lobby Parliament
on the 17th October 2-4pm at the Grimond Room, Portcullis House, to
demand funding for treatment with the chemotherapy drug, Alimta
(pemetrexed disodium).
Alimta was provided by its manufacturers for free through the
NHS to mesothelioma sufferers during extensive clinical trials.
Alimta was found to be clinically effective and has therefore been
licensed for use in mesothelioma. Alimta is the only licensed
treatment for mesothelioma.
NICE (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) in their
final appraisal of Alimta, has independently found that Alimta is
effective for the treatment of mesothelioma, but that it is too
expensive. As a result The PCTs (Primary Care Trusts) that pay for
most NHS treatment will probably cease to fund treatment with
Alimta.
Even now the current limited availability of Alimta means that
mesothelioma patients are subjected to one of the worst forms of
‘post code lottery.
Mesothelioma sufferers, their doctors, nurses and asbestos
victims support groups are demanding that all mesothelioma
sufferers have the option of treatment with Alimta.
If the NICE decision is not overturned then some but not all
mesothelioma sufferers will be able to claim the cost of treatment
with Alimta in compensation claims (See the case of Dahele v Thomas Bates and Son Limited).
However, most will not be able to afford private treatment before
their case is settled In this way clinical treatment and the length
and quality of life depends more upon the uncertainties of
litigation than upon clinical needs.
Dr Jeremy Steele of St Bartholomew’s Hospital says:
"Alimta with Cisplatin is the only licensed treatment for
mesothelioma. It is available throughout the EU. It seems quite
wrong that UK patients are denied it. It is not a cure but can
improve the quality and length of life. This treatment has been
tested in a very large research trial. NICE is wrong to say that
Alimta needs further testing before it can be funded. Testing will
delay availability for years with obvious consequences for those
affected."
An appeal of the NICE decision will be heard at 10am on the 27th
October at NICE’s offices in London.
Lobby of Parliament
A lobby of Parliament has been called by the Forum of Asbestos
Victims Support Groups, and is supported by the All Party Asbestos
Sub-Committee (Chair, Michael Clapham MP). For information about
the lobby of Parliament on the 17th October contact Andrew Morgan or Harminder
Bains.
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Practice, please visit our personal
injury section. You can also read more about our expertise in
asbestos disease claims.
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Notes:
- Alimta received a license for the treatment of mesothelioma at
the end of 2004. Alimta (administered with cisplatin) is the only
licensed drug for the treatment of mesothelioma. NICE accepts that
it is effective in prolonging life on average by 3 months, and can
in some cases prolong life by a year or more. NICE also accepts
that it is effective in palliating symptoms and improving quality
of life.
- NICE uses a formula to determine the cost effectiveness of
drugs and says that according to the formula Alimta is too
expensive. But clinicians say that the figures used by NICE are
inaccurate and important factors are not taken into account. Only
about 50% of mesothelioma patients are recommended for treatment
with Alimta. On average, patients have 5 cycles of treatment rather
than the full complement of 6, so that the average cost is only
about £6,800 per patient.