KIDNEY CANCER DRUGS

That this House welcomes the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Final Decision Determination granting access to Sutent for first-time patients with kidney cancer and expresses the hope that the NHS will implement these recommendations swiftly; is concerned that NICE has issued draft recommendations rejecting the use of three other key drugs used in treating kidney cancer, Nexavar, Avastin and Torisel; recognises that these treatments are not interchangeable and that not all patients with kidney cancer are suitable for treatment with Sutent; notes with concern that this leaves many patients without access to the latest treatments, which have been recognised as clinically effective by NICE; seeks to ensure that primary care trusts are aware that this is not final guidance and that patients should still be able to access these treatments through exceptional case processes; further notes with concern that the additional guidance on end-of-life medicines issued by NICE to the appraisal committees does not appear to have supported the use of these four key treatments options for patients; and calls on NICE seriously to reconsider this guidance and allow access to all of these important, life-extending treatments as soon as possible.