Breast cancer drug Kadcyla approved for use on NHS in Scotland

A breast cancer drug which is being withdrawn in England because of its cost will be made available on the NHS in Scotland.

Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison said the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), the body which approves drugs for use by the health service, had made a “good decision'' in permitting Kadcyla.

The drug can give patients dying from an aggressive form of breast cancer extra months of life, with more than 13,000 women signing a petition calling for it to be made routinely available.

More than 4,600 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Scotland each year, with the disease responsible for about 1,000 deaths annually.

Up to 118 women each year could now benefit from Kadcyla, according to health campaigners at Breast Cancer Now.

Ms Robison said: “I know that there will be many patients who will be pleased and will benefit from Kadcyla now being available through the NHS and I've certainly met a number of women who have been on Kadcyla and who have wanted to be on Kadcyla, and now this approval has been made the clinical decisions of who will be appropriate will mean that many women will benefit.

“I think around 100 women will benefit a year, and that's good news.''

The SMC's decision comes after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in England published final draft guidance late last year saying Kadcyla is not set at an affordable price.

The drug will be removed from the NHS south of the border in June - a decision which has prompted a fierce backlash from breast cancer patients and campaign groups.

The SMC decision was announced on the day Ms Robison declared Scotland is “one of the top nations in the world for accessing new medicines for cancer''.

SMC chairman Dr Alan MacDonald said the drug - also known as trastuzumab emtansine - had been approved after its manufacturers offered a discount in the cost.

He said: “I am pleased we were able to accept these new medicines for routine use in NHS Scotland. From the valuable testimonies given by patient groups and clinicians at our meeting, we know that trastuzumab emtansine will be welcomed by patients and their families for the treatment of breast cancer.

“We were able to accept trastuzumab emtansine on resubmission because the company offered an improved Patient Access Scheme (PAS), a confidential discount that improves the cost effectiveness of a medicine.''

Mary Allison, Breast Cancer Now’s Director for Scotland said:

“This decision will transform treatment options for women with HER2 positive secondary breast cancer in Scotland.

“I’d like to thank everyone who supported the Unlock Kadcyla petition, but most of all the four inspirational women who were the driving force behind the campaign. This success belongs to our campaigners Anne, Lesley, Alison and Lesley, who joined with us to launch the petition.

“We are pleased that the SMC and Roche have worked together to unlock this revolutionary drug. We hope this will be just the start of improved access to breast cancer medicines in Scotland.

“Both the Scottish Government and Breast Cancer Now share the same vision of making sure that by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live. If we are to achieve this, we’ll need to ensure that patients in Scotland are able to access the best possible treatments – and today is a real step forward for women with HER2 positive disease.”

Alison Tait, from Edinburgh is a single parent living with secondary breast cancer. She has been campaigning for the SMC to approve Kadcyla as she may benefit from the drug in the future. She said:

“Today, women like me and their families have been given a lifeline. I couldn’t be happier.

“Secondary breast cancer is frightening. Nothing is certain anymore. It’s drugs like Kadcyla that can give you back hope for the future and a bit of normality.

“I’m not thinking about me today. I’m thinking about my daughter Ellen. I’m glad that this drug, and the extra time it gives, will be available to all women who need it. For my family it means that Ellen and I have the best chance of sharing those big life moments together – that we can share more of life.”

Mum of four Lesley Stephen, from Edinburgh, has been at the heart of the campaign to unlock Kadcyla. Lesley’s Individual Patient Treatment Request (IPTR) for the drug Kadcyla was refused forcing her to fund treatment herself:

“I’m absolutely thrilled with the decision. Most importantly it means that no one will have to fight against bureaucracy or spend their life savings to get this drug.

“This is a huge win for women with secondary breast cancer in Scotland and I’m proud to have been part of a campaign to make this happen.”

Mum of two, Anne MacLean-Chang from Larbert joined the campaign to unlock Kadcyla after she was forced to battle Health Boards in order to receive the drug. Anne said:

“Kadcyla has allowed me to get on with my life. I have the same quality of living that I had prior to my diagnosis of secondary breast cancer and I suffer no ill effects from the drug, which is wonderful!

“I know secondary breast cancer is incurable, but I now have hope for more of a future with my family. We can get on with living and enjoying precious time together. It’s been invaluable.

“We all deserve the best chance at life and women with incurable breast cancer are no different.

“Today’s decision was the right thing to do and I commend the SMC and Roche for reaching a deal to unlock Kadcyla.”

Mum of two and campaigner Lesley Graham from Glasgow was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer last year and also faced a battle to access the drug. Lesley said:

“Today we’ve made huge progress in helping women with our type of breast cancer.

“It just shows you what can be achieved when we come together and fight for what’s right. Women going through this disease won’t face a battle to get this drug anymore. They can focus on making memories with the ones they love. That’s amazing.

“Thanks to everyone who has listened and shared our stories or signed the petition. It means the world to women like us.”