Minister Pressures Drug Maker On Use

Health Secretary Shona Robison has urged the manufacturer of the drug credited with keeping the Lockerbie bomber alive after he was freed on compassionate grounds to resolve issues that have rendered it unsuitable for use in Scotland.

Last month, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) rejected abiraterone, which was used to treat Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, for prostate cancer sufferers who have not yet had chemotherapy on the NHS.

Ms Robison told MSPs she has urged the SMC and the manufacturer to find a resolution as soon as possible.

Speaking at Holyrood, Labour MSP Jayne Baxter said: Last month, the SMC rejected abiraterone before chemotherapy for use in NHS Scotland.

This was despite emphatic support from clinicians who described the treatment as a paradigm shift.

Patients told Prostate Cancer UK that they would feel cheated, dismayed, marginalised and abandoned in the event of SMC rejection.

Now that the SMC has rejected the drug, can the Cabinet Secretary confirm her understanding of why the drug was rejected, and what steps have been taken to revisit a decision that Prostate Cancer UK has called an intolerable blow to hundreds of men with incurable prostate cancer?''

Ms Robison said 10 out of 15 medicines considered by the SMC since October have been approved.

On the issue of abiraterone, the Scottish Government absolutely recognises that patients and their representatives will be very disappointed by this decision,'' she said.

There is a clear demand for this drug, and around 100 patients in Scotland are already on this treatment through the reformed individual patient treatment request system.

However, we have encouraged the SMC and the manufacturer to find a resolution as soon as possible.''