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Desatinib (Sprycel) UK availability

This drug has now been licensed for use in the UK, it does NOT however necessarily mean that everyone will have free access, I'm sure that NICE will eventually make a judgement on it's usefuleness and what NICE says will have an influence on whether NHS trusts will fund the drug or not.
It has a considerably higher cost than Imatinib (Glivec)but obviously must have a place in treatment of cml where other drugs have failed - this is what the drug is licensed for in the uk.

Glivec 400mg daily costs about £1600 per month, where as Sprycel costs at average dose are over £2000 per month.
There are major debates at present over which drugs are going to be funded by the NHS (witness the recent uproar over Herceptin for breast cancer), so it may be a wait for anyone looking to be prescribed the drug.

Paul

Thank you Paul for yourinformation. Does this mean that we will have the same tussle as we had in 2001 with NICE over Glivec ? If this is to be then should we not as a support site be starting to make plans a s to how we as patients can form plans to oppose the inevitable findings of NICE. I feel that people without the dread cml cannot understand our feelings when they decide on who will survive and who will possibly not
Sobering thoughts, but ones that must be addressed. I am ready willing and able

Keep smiling

Keith

I think patients could have a battle with this drug, as we're constantly being reminded, the NHS struggles with funding for all sorts of issues, not only drugs. Ultimately I guess it will be down to decisions made by the Department of Health in England and the respective bodies in Scotland and Wales.
Maybe the fact that the numbers of patients who may need this drug is likely to be small, the funding issues may not be as huge as drugs for treating more common conditions.
Paul

My consultant said yesterday that he has just made a business case to the Health Authority for using dasatinib - so maybe NICE and the Welsh and Scottish equivalents have already made their judgements?
Janet

My grandad last week after being on dasatinib for 3 months, despite dasatinib pushing him back from accelerated/blast phase to chronic phase, has been denied funding by his PCT (West Kent) and been put back on imitinib a drug he is intolerant to against the advice of my grandad's consultant and his team.

NB First 3 months of dasatinib treatment was funded by our NHS Trust not PCT

Does anyone have any information regarding when NICE will make a judgement on the dasatinib?

We have written to our PCTs chief exec as has our GP, MP and local councillor but so far we have not had a response. His consultant has also challenged the decision but now feels there is nothing more he can personally do. Do anyone have any advice on how we can challenge this decision?

Best wishes,

Ella