Breast cancer drug eribulin turned down by NICE

Wednesday, 4 April 2012 10:28 AM

Yet another drug has been turned down by NICE for breast cancer patients. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence decided not to recommend eribulin for the treatment of people with secondary breast cancer who have had chemotherapy.

The chemotherapy medication – also known as Halaven – has been shown to extend the life expectancy for women with advanced breast cancer.

Catherine Priestley, Clinical Nurse Specialist at support charity Breast Cancer Care, said: “The final guidance announced today by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) which continues not to recommend the use of eribulin through the NHS in England and Wales will be extremely disappointing news for people living with secondary breast cancer and their families.

“Through our services at Breast Cancer Care we support many people living with secondary breast cancer and know just how important it is for them to have access to treatments that could potentially extend their life expectancy."

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