Herceptin funding decision boost

13 April 2012

Primary care trusts are to be obliged to fund the use of the breast cancer drug Herceptin after final guidance was issued by the Government's health watchdog.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has rejected an appeal by Newbury and Community Primary Care Trust against its recommendation.

The final guidance on the drug confirms draft guidelines issued in June which recommend Herceptin for early stage HER2-positive breast cancer except where there are concerns about a woman's heart function.

Herceptin is effective on the HER2-positive type of the disease which affects around 20% to 25% of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Nice chief executive Andrew Dillon said: "Our assessment of Herceptin shows that it is clinically and cost effective for women with HER2 positive early breast cancer.

"The guidance has been issued rapidly, to ensure consistent use across the NHS and was produced in draft form just two weeks after the licence extension for Herceptin was granted.

"We plan to continue appraising certain technologies rapidly and close to when they are licensed, for the benefit of both the NHS, patients and their carers."

Christine Fogg, joint chief executive of Breast Cancer Care, said: "People with early-stage breast cancer who may benefit from being treated with Herceptin will be greatly relieved to hear this final decision.

"The potential benefits this drug could have for patients with a moderate or high-risk of a recurrence of breast cancer have been shown to outweigh its associated risks.

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt said: "This is a very important decision for breast cancer patients and I welcome the final guidance by Nice on the use of Herceptin for early breast cancer.

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