NHS England (NHSE) have just published a draft proposal that could result in dasatinib becoming available on the same routine prescribing basis as imatinib (Glivec) for newly diagnosed adult CML patients in chronic phase and also for adult CML patients, in either chronic or accelerated phases, who are either resistant to or intolerant of imatinib. The formal NHSE description of the draft proposal is that it is a Clinical Commissioning Policy Statement. This type of policy sets out rules for the routine funding of a specific treatment essentially describing what gets funded, who gets funded and the circumstances under which it will take place. Registered stakeholders, including CMLSg, have been invited to complete a response template to elicit their views on various aspects of the policy with a submission deadline of 7th March. We will, of course, strongly support the rapid move of dasatinib into routine use within the NHS in England and its subsequent removal from the national list of drugs paid for via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) following a successful application made a patient's doctor. We do not think there needs to a further public consultation on the proposal since there are no new technical issues involved rather the focus has been on the cost of the drug with the draft commissioning policy indicating that the company has negotiated a new confidential pricing agreement with NHSE. Regarding the other drugs on the CDF list for the treatment of CML. It is to be hoped that bosutinib will emerge positively from the transition process described in my post of the 17th February. A paper presented to the NHSE Board last month stated that the timetable for its evaluation will published this month with the same applying for the evaluation of ponatinib and all other drugs in the current CDF list. I'll update the Forum when this occurs as I will as soon as we hear the outcome for the dasatinib proposal.
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News about the availability of dasatinib in England
That's is certainly a move in the right direction.
As someone who had to fight tooth and nail, and privately fund it for a while, in order to get NHS funded dasatinib I massively welcome any steps that could lead it to be made available to more people.
Without blowing my own trumpet, I think some other less informed (and less persistent!) patients might not have got the result I did.
David.
Hi David,
Many thanks for your post, information, and update. To see Dasatinib finally available to the CML community in England would be outstanding. It is a shame to see money being the overriding factor, but that is life and business, not patient care. Its a shame it has taken so long for a price, hopefully to be agreed. Lets hope this does happen and easier access to a 3rd TKI is here.