NICE OKs mesothelioma drug

Pemetrexed Disodium (Alimta) will now be available across the NHS for malignant pleural mesothelioma in certain cases after NICE threw out an appeal.

After a two-and-a-half-year wait because of approval processes NICE has recommended Pemetrexed Disodium for patients who have WHO performance status of 0 (able to carry out all normal activity without restriction) or 1 (restricted in strenuous activity but able to move around and carry out light work), or who are considered to have advanced disease or for whom surgical resection is considered inappropriate.

Mesothelioma is uncurable but the drug can increase life expectancy and reduce symptoms. At present Pemetrexed Disodium is available in certain areas of the country but its prescription is not widespread across the UK.

Dr Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive of NICE said:

“I know that some patients and healthcare professionals have criticised the time it has taken for us to issue guidance. In this instance two separate appeal stages have delayed the publication of our final guidance. However I am confident that we have reached the right conclusion.”

Adrian Budgen, a solicitor specialising in asbestos related diseases said:

"Until now, only a small number of sufferers have qualified for Alimta so there has been a deeply regrettable postcode lottery in existence. Although it is far from being a cure, the patients who respond well to this treatment will have a better quality of life and that can only be a good thing."

Source: http://www.legal-medical.co.uk/news/11750.html

Victory for cancer drug campaign

NORTH-EAST campaigners have won their three-year battle to get a life-prolonging lung cancer drug funded on the NHS.

Alimta, which is the only treatment for asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma, will be given to NHS patients with advanced stages of the disease who cannot have surgery.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) yesterday issued guidance following a two-and-a-half year approval process, which included two appeals.

The guidance means that primary care trusts (PCTs) will be able to fund the drug for all NHS patients with mesothelioma for whom the treatment is suitable.

The North-East has one of the highest concentrations of the disease which has its roots in heavy industry such as shipbuilding.

Chris Knighton, of Wallsend, North Tyneside, lost her husband Mick to mesothelioma, prompting her to raise more than £330,000 for research.

The founder of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund said: “I am absolutely delighted as really today is a victory for us as we have been fighting for this for three years.

“I think that hopefully in the future making the drug accessible to patients who have had surgery is something that could be possibly looked at to make it accessible for more patients. My concern is that now PCTs make the drug available for mesothelioma patients as they don’t have the benefit of time.”

Arthur Tiffin, 53, of North Walbottle, Newcastle, who died from mesothelioma last summer, led the campaign to make Alimta available for patients in the region which was successful in 2005. NICE initially ruled against the use of Alimta across the NHS but made a U-turn last year and issued guidance recommending the life prolonging drug.

But two appeals were lodged in September, the first for the drug to be extended for people who had surgery, and the second stating that it did not fall within the special criteria for funding drugs over a £30,000 threshold have been dismissed on all counts. Yesterday’s recommendation was delayed by several months subject to an appeal hearing but marks the end of a long running battle for the drug to be funded on the NHS.

Blaydon MP Dave Anderson, a patron of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund charity, said: “The Government now needs to ensure that there is a level playing field across the whole of the UK for workers stricken by this disease.

“It is only right that treatment is available according to need and not cost.

“However, the delay getting this decision has added to the mental and physical anguish for sufferers and has sadly come too late for some.”

He is calling on PCTs to immediately fund the treatment and not wait until the end of the three month implementation period.

Source: http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/01/24/victory-for-cancer-drug-campaign-61634-20387489/

NICE Gives Green Light To Treatment For Asbestos-Induced Lung Cancer

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on Alimta(R) (pemetrexed), the only licensed treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma - a form of lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos. Alimta is recommended only in patients who have WHO performance status of 0 or 1, who are considered to have advanced disease and for whom surgical resection is considered inappropriate.

Following a two-and-a-half year approval process, which included two appeals, the guidance means that primary care trusts (PCTs) will be able and obliged to fund pemetrexed for all NHS patients with mesothelioma for whom the treatment is suitable. The most recent appeal has been dismissed on all counts.

It was hoped that access to this treatment across England, Wales and Northern Ireland would consistently be available last year when, following a lengthy review process, NICE made a landmark decision to change its position and recommend Alimta for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma[1] . However, appeals were submitted against the NICE recommendation and the process was subsequently further delayed by several months. Such delays are significant for patients with mesothelioma who have a life expectancy of between only 8 and 18 months[2]. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, Alimta can increase life expectancy and bring symptom relief and improved quality of life.[3]

Dr Gary Middleton, a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Royal Surrey County Hospital welcomed the decision. "Patients suffering with this disease have always deserved a decision based on need and not cost and NICE have now granted that. However, the time taken to arrive at this decision has added more mental and physical pain for many and for some it has simply come too late. To place treatment choices at the mercy of a ponderously slow system geared towards cost will inevitably mean that outcomes for cancer patients in the UK will lag behind those in the rest of the developed world."

People affected by mesothelioma in the UK are primarily those who have worked in manufacturing industries such as shipbuilding, construction work and railway engineering. Incidence of the disease is therefore concentrated in areas such as Glasgow, the North East, the North West, Belfast, London, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton.[7] A number of teachers working in schools built using asbestos have also contracted the disease. Asbestos affects not only those who are directly exposed to it but other family members who have come into contact with the deadly fibres on clothing worn at the place of work.

Mick Clapham MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health comments "I welcome confirmation of the NICE decision to recommend Alimta, as the only licensed treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma. The Government must now ensure a level playing field of access to Alimta across the UK for workers suffering from mesothelioma."

After a review of efficacy and safety data, Alimta (+ cisplatin) received a licence for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma in the UK in November 2004. It was accepted for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium in July 2005.[4]

Tony Whitston, Chair of The Asbestos Support Groups' Forum commented, "At last this means an end to the postcode lottery which has meant that some patients have received the treatment while those in neighbouring PCT areas have not. We urge PCTs to address the needs of mesothelioma patients who have waited so long for this decision and to allow funding straight away and not to wait until the three-month implementation period is over before they allow access to this treatment."

Note:

It takes between 20 and 40 years for mesothelioma to develop and people exposed to asbestos before its gradual withdrawal from the 1970s onwards are only now beginning to show symptoms of the disease. In 2004 over 1,600 people died from mesothelioma in the UK[5] <#_ftn6> but the peak in numbers won't be reached until around 2015 when 2,500 new cases are expected[6] <#_ftn7> .

Details of the NICE appraisal process for Alimta (pemetrexed disodium) can be seen on the NICE website: http://www.nice.org.uk/

References

[1] National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence .Pemetrexed in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. FAD published 9th July 2007: click here toview article January 2008.

"NICE has recommended pemetrexed (Alimta) as a treatment option for malignant pleural mesothelioma only in people who have a World Health Organization (WHO) performance status of 0 or 1, who are considered to have advanced disease and for whom surgical intervention is considered inappropriate. Patients currently receiving pemetrexed who do not fall into the patient population defined in section 1.1 should have the option to continue therapy until they and their clinicians consider it appropriate to stop."

[2] Pass H. Malignant pleural mesothelioma: surgical roles and novel therapies. Clin Lung Cancer. 2001;3:102-17. Medline.

[3] Green J et al. The Cochrane Collaboration. Pemetrexed disodium in combination with cisplatin versus other cytotoxic agents or supportive care for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (Review). The Cochrane Library 2007, Issue 1.

[4] Scottish Medicines Consortium. Detailed advice document. Pemetrexed 500mg infusion (Alimta®) Drug No (192/05) July 2005 click here to view article Accessed 21 January 2008.

[5] Cancer Research UK

[6] Health & Safety Executive. Mesothelioma mortality in Great Britain: estimating the future burden. National Statistics 2003. Click here to view article

[7] Health & Safety Executive. Mesothelioma Area Statistics: Counties (included local authorities) and unitary authorities in Great Britain. 1976-1991.

http://www.nice.org.uk

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/94911.php

Cancer drug to be given on NHS

CAMPAIGNERS for the life-extending cancer drug Alimta are celebrating after it was given the final go-ahead for use on the NHS.

As reported in later editions of yesterday’s Chronicle, all patients with asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma will be given the North East-developed drug free.

Despite two appeals against its use, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has given all trusts the go-ahead to prescribe the drug.

Alimta is the only treatment for mesothelioma and was sanctioned for use by North East NHS trusts following the Chronicle’s Give Us A Chance campaign in 2005.

“We really are delighted at this decision,” said Chris Knighton, from Wallsend, whose husband Mick died from mesothelioma, prompting her to raise more than £330,000 for research.

“It’s been one of the worst examples of postcode lottery prescribing and we’ve lobbied parliament on a number of occasions because there is nothing else for people with this disease.

“But it’s been a long journey to get to this point and people with mesothelioma don’t have time on their side.”

In 2005 the Northern Cancer Network agreed to let patients in the North East have Alimta on the NHS, but nearby health authorities did not grant it for their patients.

Blaydon MP Dave Anderson, patron of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund, added: “It is only right that treatment is available according to need and not cost.

“However, the delay getting this decision has added to the mental and physical anguish for sufferers and has sadly come too late for some.

“We should now see an end to the postcode lottery whereby some patients have received the treatment while those in neighbouring Primary Care Trust areas have not.”

Alimta is the only licensed treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma – a form of lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos.

Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, Alimta can increase life expectancy and bring symptom relief as well as improved quality of life.

Source: http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-evening-chronicle/2008/01/24/cancer-drug-to-be-given-on-nhs-72703-20389326/

Asbestos Disease in Sarnia Ontario: A case study into a Canadian blue-collar community living a preventable cancer tragedy

Sarnia-Lambton, the centre of Canada’s petrochemical industry, historically made extensive use of asbestos. Through participatory research methods and clinical diagnostic services, a wide range of asbestos-related diseases was uncovered among Sarnia-Lambton’s industrial working population. The area has the highest rates of pleural mesothelioma in the province of Ontario as well as elevated rates of respiratory diseases and cancers associated with exposure to asbestos. Self-reported health and ethnographic data were gathered using facilitated participatory body and hazard mapping.

Source: http://www.events.utoronto.ca/index.php?action=singleView&eventid=1492

The Law Offices of James Sokolove Founder Appears on Diverse Media

Attorney Jim Sokolove, founder of The Law Offices of James Sokolove, has long focused on providing consumers with important and timely information.

Most recently, that commitment found the attorney reaching out to diverse audiences with back-to-back appearances on a PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) news segment and on a popular rock station’s radio talk show.

Sokolove was interviewed for PBS’ “The Smart Consumer” news program and the first segment aired on January 11, 2008 in New York and other markets. This piece dealt with malignant mesothelioma, a deadly, asbestos-caused illness.

Talking with “The Smart Consumer” host Tore Dietrich, Sokolove discussed the origins of mesothelioma, its warnings signs, and those at the highest risk for contracting the illness. “Even though the government calls it an ‘orphan disease’, there are still 3,000 people a year who die of mesothelioma,” the attorney explained. “The worst part of it is that these people are our parents and brothers who worked in the mills, fought in the wars, and protected our country. The companies and the insurers knew of the dangers of asbestos, but hid them because they placed profits before people.”

A video version of the mesothelioma broadcast can be viewed on “The Smart Consumer” website. Two additional interviews in which Sokolove discusses the topics of birth injuries and dangerous drugs will air on January 25 and February 8, respectively.

On January 14, Sokolove was a guest on WFNX’s popular morning show, “The Sandbox”. WFNX is a commercial alternative rock radio station which serves a sizeable audience of 18 to 34-year-olds across a three state market. The station broadcasts at 101.7 FM in Boston and 92.1 FM in Southern Maine and New Hampshire.

Speaking with two of the show’s hosts, Sokolove offered his views on the current, highly publicized legal situations facing a popular pop star and a notable sports legend. The attorney looks forward to more lively discussions with “The Sandbox” hosts in future appearances. Highlights from the January 14 show are available as a podcast on the station’s website.

About The Law Offices of James Sokolove
For almost 30 years, The Law Offices of James Sokolove (LOJS) has focused on reinventing how people obtain legal services. Equality of access, irrespective of ethnicity or income, and superior quality of representation and service within our civil justice system is our mission. Within an ever-changing legal profession, the LOJS business model is a proven success strategically matching specific client needs with particular law firm expertise and service quality. LOJS is the nation’s largest and fastest growing marketer of legal services.

Source: http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/28941/