Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to make difluoromethylornithine available on the NHS for children with high-risk neuroblastoma.

We understand how important it is that cancer patients are able to benefit from rapid access to effective new treatments. We are aware that the manufacturer difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) has applied for a United Kingdom marketing authorisation through Project Orbis, which is an international partnership that allows the more rapid review and approval of promising new cancer treatments.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has already begun evaluating this treatment with the aim of publishing guidance for the National Health Service on its use as soon as possible, if it receives a UK licence.

We understand that the manufacturer of DFMO, Norgine, is setting up a ‘compassionate use’ programme, meaning it will be made available free of charge in the UK for individual patients upon a request from a UK prescribing clinician, before a decision is made on the UK marketing authorisation.