Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the introduction of herceptin on the NHS as a treatment for (a) rare forms of cancer and (b) lacrimal gland carcinoma.
Herceptin is currently licensed for use in the United Kingdom as a treatment for specific types of breast and gastric cancer, and has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in technology appraisal guidance for use in patients meeting specific clinical criteria. Herceptin is routinely available to eligible National Health Service patients in line with NICE’s recommendations.
Herceptin is not currently licensed for other rare forms of cancer, including lacrimal gland carcinoma, and has therefore not been subject to NICE appraisal for these indications.