NHS rationing body refuses drug for women with advanced ovarian cancer

Guidance from Nice says potential benefits of Avastin do not outweigh very high cost of drug, so cannot be recommendedWomen with advanced ovarian cancer will not receive the first life-extending drug in 15 years to treat the disease after the NHS rationing body said that its potential benefits did not outweigh its high cost.New draft guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) means that Avastin will not be available on the NHS in cases where advanced ovarian cancer has returned at least six months after the woman has undergone platinum-based chemotherapy."In this instance the appraisal committee concluded that, although bevacizumab [Avastin] may help to delay the spread of a patient's cancer for a limited time, the evidence did not show that bevacizumab justifies its very high cost and could not be recommended", said Sir Andrew Dillon, Nice's chief executive.While there are "limited treatment options" for such patients, other drugs are available, Dillon added.But the charity Target Ovarian Cancer said that "women will be distressed by this decision". It was uncertain if patients would even be able to have the drug paid for by the Cancer Drugs Fund, and some may die while waiting to see if they can, said Frances Reid, its director of public affairs and communications.Ovarian cancer recurs in between 55% and 75% of ovarian cancer sufferers whose tumours initially responded to chemotherapy, said Roche, which makes Avastin. It can give wom...
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