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Dasatinib & Nilotinib in the UK

I am an ex-pat living in the USA and have been on Sprycell for about 9 months. At some time in the future I may have to return to the UK. Can anyone tell me are Sprycell (Disatanib) or Nilotanib available anywhere in the UK.

I could not tolerate Gleevac because it was damaging my liver.
Blessings
Vanessa

hi Vanessa,
dasatinib (Sprycel) is licenced and available in most parts of the UK for use in Glivec resistant/intolerant chronic stage CML.
however it has not yet had a NICE appraisal so some regional health authorities have taken the view that they can therefore refuse funding for this therapy. the regions that are problematic are in the minority and only in some parts of England ... not in Scotland or Wales.... therefore access to dasatinib would depend on where you chose to live should you return to the UK.

nilotinib (Tasigna) is only available within the ENACT trial programme which ends in April.
However, both drugs are due to be approved for an appraisal by NICE. this process will take some time but we hope to have a positive decision for both drugs by mid 2009. this means they will then be available on NHS prescription throughout the UK.

Sandy

Thanks Sandy. It's quite worrying that not all Countries work at the same pace!
But thanks for the info, makes me feel at little 'secure'.
Vanessa

My husband went onto Dasatanib in October 2007 because his PCR was rising on Glivec. We initially had to go to Manchester for the treatment but now alternate between Bolton and Manchester as Bolton now has Dasatanib. RACHEL

Hi Rachel,

I hope that your husband is doing well with the dasatanib and the PCR is coming down and that the side effects are tolerable.

Thank you so much for the lovely message that you left in my guest book.

Look after yourselves
love
Susan