Lung Cancer Medicines

Lord Allan of Hallam Excerpts

Wednesday 14th February 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

I am most grateful to the noble Lord for his lifelong service to the community and to this House. He raises a very good point. On the one hand, NICE is clear that there are alternatives to this drug, but it will still be available to current patients. I take on board what the noble Lord says, and I will report it back to the department.

[Lord Allan of Hallam (LD)]

My Lords, following on from the previous question, and given the importance of speed of access to treatment for cancer sufferers, can the Minister explain what the Government are doing to speed up the process for NICE approvals for new cancer drugs and how that process is being tied into the MHRA licensing process, so that they can run in parallel, rather than one having to wait for the other?

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

The noble Lord raises a good point, and I agree with it. Since 2016, the cancer drugs fund, worth £340 million per year, has delivered faster access for tens of thousands of NHS patients to some of the most promising new cancer medicines—in some cases, up to eight months faster, including for Pembrolizumab and Selpercatinib. These are two very important drugs, and the hope is that they will be successful moving forward. Only time will tell, but the Government are committed to introducing life-saving drugs.