Cancer Research UK welcomes glioma drug ruling
FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER 2006
The number of patients with glioma - a form of brain tumour - who are eligible to receive temozolomide on the NHS has been increased following an appeal to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Cancer Research UK, which funded research and phase one and two trials into the drug, welcomed the decision to change the original ruling, which recommended temozolomide only for patients who were fully active.
NICE now recommends that patients who are slightly less active may also be considered for the drug.
"We are very pleased with today's NICE decision which will enable more patients who are diagnosed with high-grade glioma to benefit from temozolomide," said Professor John Toy of Cancer Research UK.
"Because brain cancer can be very difficult to treat successfully, patient access to a drug like temozolomide is particularly important for them.
"We hope this recommendation will be implemented as quickly as possible to give more patients with brain cancer a treatment that extends lives."
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