Pfizer to give out breast cancer drug free while awaiting NHS decision stat : The Guardian

Fiona Hazell, director of policy and engagement at the charity Breast Cancer Now, said: "This is an unexpected lifeline for thousands of women living with this type of breast cancer. The ICR and Breast Cancer Now both urged Pfizer to reduce the price to allow it to be offered on the NHS. "Acknowledging calls from physicians and patient groups across the UK for timely access to palbociclib, Pfizer has made the decision, in this instance, to provide palbociclib free of charge whilst the appraisal process continues." It estimated that about 5,500 people in England – out of 45,000 new diagnoses of breast cancer each year – would potentially be eligible for treatment with the drug. Pfizer said women who took up the offer would receive the full duration of treatment, regardless of Nice's final decision.




The student's invention was reportedly inspired by his mother's dealings with breast cancer — which wound up resulting in a double mastectomy. The innovative new undergarment, called "EVA," can reportedly sense signs of breast cancer in its early stages, when chances of successful treatment are much greater, Indy100.com notes. Cantu created Higia Technologies with three friends. Julian Rios Cantu, an 18-year-old Mexican student, started a company called Higia Technologies, which has set out to apply biosensor technology to the brassiere, Indy100, a part of Independent, reports. The greater the flow of blood, the higher the temperature."EVA won the top prize at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.


Fiona Hazell, Director of Policy and Engagement at Breast Cancer Now, said: "This is an unexpected lifeline for thousands of women living with this type of breast cancer. Experts have described palbociclib as one of the most important advances in breast cancer treatment in decades. A spokesman for the drug firm said: "Pfizer believes women with metastatic breast cancer deserve access as soon as possible to this innovative medicine. Palbociclib – sold under the trade name Ibrance – is for women whose breast cancer is oestrogen receptor-positive, HER2 negative, and has spread around the body. Breast Cancer Now said: "Unless the flaws in the system are fixed, patients in England will struggle to access the best new breast cancer medicines."Around 55,000 women are diagnosed with the disease in the UK each year – with around 11,000 dying.


collected by :Lucy William

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