Lung cancer treatments approved for Scottish NHS

Two treatments that can extend the lives of patients with incurable lung cancer have been approved for use on the NHS.

Two new lung cancer treatments have been approved for routine use in Scotland.

Scottish patients will be the first in the UK to get access to nivolumab, a landmark immunotherapy treatment that is the first medicine of its kind to be approved in nearly 20 years.

The drug uses the immune system to target cancer cells among patients with an aggressive form of the disease known as squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

These patients, who tend to have a poor prognosis, could get an extra four months survival time and improved quality of life.

Dr Marianne Nicolson, a consultant medical oncologist at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, said: “This positive decision marks a major turning point for lung cancer care in Scotland.

“Until today, there have been few treatments for this type of lung cancer that have the potential to extend survival in patients.

“The SMC recommendation to make nivolumab available to Scottish NHS patients has opened the door to an immunotherapy that offers real hope to patients and their families.”

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) also accepted crizotinib to target very rare form of lung cancer called ALK positive, which claims the lives of most patients within a year.

The medicine can delay progression of the disease by four months and reduce the number of hospital visits compared to chemotherapy.

Scotland has one of the highest incidences of lung cancer in the world and it accounts for a quarter of all cancer deaths each year.

Lung cancer is often diagnosed late when treatment options are limited.

A treatment for epilepsy was given the go-ahead, which could help patients who suffer side effects from existing treatments.

The SMC also accepted a new type of antidepressant and a treatment for a progressive arthritic disease called ankylosing spondylitis.

Chairman Professor Jonathan Fox said: “From what patient groups and clinicians told us during the PACE meetings, we know that crizotinib and nivolumab for two different types of lung cancer will be welcomed.

“The patient group and clinician contributions played an important part in helping the Committee reach its decisions on these medicines.”

“Additional treatments for depression and severe epilepsy are always welcome, while secukinumab may help those with ankylosing spondylitis who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy have a better quality of life.”