PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Cancer Drugs Fund (28 October 2014)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancer drugs approved by the Cancer Drugs Fund have subsequently been (a) approved and (b) rejected by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Asked by:
Sir Nicholas Dakin (Labour)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published final technology appraisal guidance for 27 treatment indications that have been approved by the Cancer Drugs Fund panel for inclusion on its national list. Of these:

- three treatment indications have been recommended by NICE;

- three treatment indications have received an optimised recommendation from NICE, recommending use for to a smaller group of patients than is eligible for treatment through the Cancer Drugs Fund; and

- 21 treatment indications have not been recommended. In some cases, NICE issued guidance that did not recommend a treatment before it was approved for inclusion the Cancer Drugs Fund national list.

NICE is appraising but has yet to issue final guidance for some treatment indications. NICE is also currently updating its guidance for two treatment indications with an optimised recommendation; and one treatment indication that is not recommended. Additionally, a number of treatments on the Cancer Drugs Fund national list have not been appraised by NICE.

Answered by:
George Freeman (Conservative)
3 November 2014