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The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which rations the money the NHS spends on drugs has changed their decision to ban Alimta.
NICE was being pressurized for this by a crusade by doctors and finally they approved the drug so that thousands of patients with the disease caused by malignant asbestos will receive the life-prolonging drug in the future as well.
In March, the institute had announced that they would ban Alimta as it was not costeffective at £ 8,000 for a full course.
The doctors then remonstrated that the the treatment is already available in Scotland for mesothelioma, the cancer caused by exposure to asbestos fibres.
They also pointed out that NHS spends around £120million for Herceptin, the breast cancer drug and a total bill of £3 to £6 million a year compares favourably with that.
Around 1,000 out of 1,500 patients developing mesothelioma each year might be eligible for treatment.
"It's a victory for doctors and patients who applied pressure on NICE," said Dr Gary Middleton, a consultant at Royal Surrey County Hospital.
"Generally, untreated patients live only upto 5-6 months after diagnosed with mesothelioma. The drug Alimta can extend the life by around 13 months or perhaps much longer," Dr Middleton added.
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