Herceptin row must be end of new drugs controversy

12.52.23pm GMT Mon 6th Feb 2006

Herceptin is a life-saving drug

Welsh Liberal Democrats will attempt to ensure that the row over breast cancer drug Herceptin does not re-occur with other potentially life saving drugs.

In one of the first debates in the new Assembly building, Welsh Liberal Democrats will be counting on opposition support to force the Labour government to speed up the process for approving new drugs.

Health Spokesperson Jenny Randerson said: "Herceptin has become a cause celebre of the Welsh Political scene, and thanks to the campaigning of cancer charities politicians, and private individuals this battle is almost won.

"Only South West Wales LHBs remain to be convinced that this is a drug that should be available to patients where their doctors believe it will make a difference.

"But now we must ensure that patients with other cancers and other diseases don't face the same battle to get treatment with equally beneficial drugs about to become available for prescribing. We must reform the way that new drugs come to the market to ensure patients get the best possible treatment."

Herceptin is the first and best known of a number of new "wonder drugs" which are becoming available.

Others include:

· Cetuximab - a last-stage treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer, used when other treatments have failed. It can help prolong life for a month or more. Although licensed it has not yet been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice). NICE guidance is expected in November. The All Wales Medicine Strategy Group will look at whether it should be funded in Wales in March 2006. Cost - about £30,000 per person per year;

· Bevacizumab (Avastin) - for secondary bowel cancer. Like Cetuximab, Bevacizumab has been licensed for use but is waiting to go through the Nice approval process. Cost - slightly less than £30,000 per person per year;

· Tarceva - has been developed as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer and could potentially treat hundreds of Welsh patients. It has been licensed but is waiting approval by Nice. Cost - £600 per dose to be taken every three weeks.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike German said: "It is highly appropriate that this issue should be the first big test for the Labour Government as we move in to the new Senedd building.

"We have to put in place a better system of approving, and recommending drugs for use in Wales. That is what our motion seeks to do. The Scots have developed a system which works far more effectively than ours.

"We are confident of gaining cross-party support to ensure that Health Minister Brian Gibbons has to do something about this. He has a duty to ensure that patients in Wales aren't left waiting for the drugs they may need."

The debate will take place in the New Assembly Building on Tuesday February 6th. It will be the first major debate - and government defeat - to be held in the new debating chamber.