6:03am Friday 30th March 2007
By Barry Nelson
A TERMINALLY-ILL cancer patient fighting for a drug that could prolong his life has welcomed a decision which could lead to doctors being able to prescribe it on the NHS.
George King, 57, from Skelton, east Cleveland, has twice fought back from a rare bone marrow cancer, multiple myeloma, which attacked his spine.
Until recently, Redcar and Cleveland Primary Care Trust (PCT) was refusing to pay for Mr King to be treated with a new drug called Velcade, which can extend the lives of sufferers but can cost up to £100,000 a year.
Velcade is available to NHS patients in Scotland and is widely prescribed in Europe, but following a ruling by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice), it is not being prescribed on the NHS in England.
Yesterday, a group representing myeloma charities hailed a decision by Nice to review a ruling which prevents patients from obtaining Velcade on the NHS in England.
The move comes in response to an appeal lodged by the cancer charities Myeloma UK, Cancerbackup and Leukaemia Care. They argued that Nice's initial rejection of Velcade was based mainly on the ground of cost, rather than effectiveness, and that the decision was unfair.
The Nice appeals panel has now ruled that as Velcade is the first in a new class of treatment, the Nice committee must fully explain its reasons for failing to recommend a drug which can significantly prolong the life of patients with an incurable disease.
Eric Low, chief executive of Myeloma UK, said: "This is a promising step forward for myeloma patients."
Mr King, a father-of-three, said: "It is brilliant news. It gives us a bit of hope."
Mr King has put plans to move to Scotland on hold, after officials at his local PCT changed their minds and agreed to pay for Velcade when his illness returns.
But this could be reversed if Nice eventually turns the drug down.
Mr King said: "I am currently in remission. I don't require the drug at the moment, but I am thinking about the future.
"The PCT has said it will fund Velcade until there is a decision by Nice," he added.
A move north of the border is still on the cards if a final decision goes against myeloma patients, said Mr King.
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