UK lags behind in uptake of new cancer drugs
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Colorectal cancer is one area of poor uptake of new drugs |
Uptake of new drugs for cancer in the UK is behind that of many countries, according to a Swedish report sponsored by Roche Pharmaceuticals and published last week (Annals of Oncology 2007;18:supplement
3).
The report, an updated version of that published
in 2005 by the same authors (PJ, 8 October 2005, p430), looks at sales of new oncology drugs
from 1995 to 2005, and discusses inequalities between countries in terms
of uptake of the drugs and the impact of health technology appraisals.
It says that Austria, France, Switzerland and the US are seen as leaders
in the uptake of new cancer drugs. But the uptake is low and slow in
New Zealand, Poland, the Czech Republic, South Africa and the UK.
The biggest differences in uptake were identified for colorectal cancer
drugs bevacizumab and cetuximab, and for lung cancer drugs erlotinib
and pemetrexed. However, the report reveals that imatinib and rituximab
use is an exception, with their uptake being fairly uniform.
The report is critical of the effect of economic evaluations — such
as National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence appraisals — on
the availability of innovative cancer drugs. However, it adds: “The
evidence of any systematic impact of such studies on uptake of new drugs
is still lacking.”
A positive review from NICE may lead to fast access to new treatments,
the report says, but it questions the capacity of NICE to undertake reviews
in a timely manner.
“During the period that no NICE review exists, no resources are
allocated by the NHS,” the authors write. “This leads to
further delay for cancer patients … getting access to new innovative
drug therapies and this is clearly demonstrated by the comparison of
the UK with other
countries studied in this report”.
The report’s authors also compare the time taken by NICE to complete
technology appraisals and the time taken by the Scottish Medicines Consortium.
NICE responded: “The report identifies that the Scottish system
for appraising new drugs takes around three months but does not describe
how the NICE process is longer because it allows for an independent assessment
of drug manufacturer evidence and public consultation on draft recommendations.”
Andrew Dillon, NICE chief executive, said that the report, despite being
updated, does not acknowledge the rapid appraisal process that has been
running since November 2005 and which enables NICE to appraise new drugs
in around six months.
UK cancer survival rates are behind four major
EU countries
The report places the UK below France, Spain,
Germany and Italy in terms of five-year cancer survival. However,
Cancer Research
UK pointed out that the variation in the amount of data collected
by different countries — some countries recording as little
as 4 per cent — makes the accuracy of comparisons uncertain.
A spokeswoman for the charity told The Journal that the UK’s
cancer data are strong, providing a complete picture, whereas some
countries may take data from more centralised areas where survival
is better. The charity’s comments coincide with its release
of new data for overall cancer survival in the UK. Ten-year survival
rose from 23.6 per cent to 46.2 per cent, and five-year survival
from 28.0 per cent to 49.6 per cent, over the 30 years between
1971 and 2001, Cancer Research UK reports. |
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