NHS announces cuts to Cancer Drugs Fund

From 12 March 2015, a total of 25 drugs will be cut from the NHS Cancer Drugs Fund in England. This fund was introduced as an interim measure to allow patients access to treatment that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is financially unable to approve, and typically applies to the more expensive (and often more effective) drugs on the market.

The 25 drugs in question will either be removed entirely or placed under restrictions; a move that is understandably causing concern and outrage among patients and their relatives, and various cancer charities.

The reason for the change, according to NHS England Fund Chair, Professor Peter Clark, is that cutting drugs that have been deemed to have “little clinical benefit” will free up finances for “new and better” drugs to be offered to cancer sufferers. The country’s flagship Cancer Drugs Fund had been otherwise due to go over budget by £100m in 2014/2015, as pharmaceutical company prices continue to spiral ever upwards. In the event, the Fund has increased from £280m to £340m for 2015/2016, with £80m saved by the cuts in place.

Alongside pancreatic and bowel cancer treatments, breast cancer drugs will be considerably affected. Of the six specific breast cancer drugs under review for cuts from the Cancer Trust Fund, three have been removed for future patients, namely Afinitor, Tyverb and Halaven. Fortunately there will be no change in the care for patients already receiving and currently benefiting from Afinitor, Tyverb or Halaven. The three other drugs remaining available on the Fund are Kadcyla, Perjeta and Avastin.

For further reading on the impact the NHS’s announcement has had on the breast cancer community, please visit Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s statement released earlier this week.

Breast Cancer Care are also running a helpline offering information and support for anyone distressed by this news on 0808 800 6000.