MESOTHELIOMA MSO1 TRIAL AND ACCESS TO ALIMTA

That this House recognises that since July 2005 mesothelioma victims in Scotland have had access to the drug Alimta, which is the only licensed treatment for this tumour; welcomes the decision of the cancer networks and primary care trusts that have made Alimta available in parts of England and Wales; notes the debate in the Scottish Parliament on 7th June 2007 supporting continued availability of the drug; draws attention to the recent publication of the results of the MSO1 clinical trial comparing two unlicensed therapies mitomycin/vinorelbine/platinum (MVP) in combination with active symptom control (ASC) and further notes that these chemotherapy agents did not result in a significant survival benefit; observes that modelling submitted to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the on-going appraisal of Alimta for the treatment of mesothelioma shows that the drug is cost effective per quality adjusted life year (QALY); implores NICE to take account of this; and calls on the Secretary of State for Health to accept that given the industrial nature of this disease the Government has a wider duty of care and social responsibility that goes beyond the definition of cost effectiveness.