Liver cancer drug ‘ruled out by the NHS’

A liver cancer drug developed by Bayer has been deemed too expensive for use on the NHS.

Nexavar has been found to prolong the lives of liver cancer sufferers, but the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has cancelled it out as an NHS treatment, as it costs £3,000 a month per person to administer.

England, Wales and Northern Ireland trusts will be affected by the decision.

Macmillan Cancer Support has spoken out in opposition of the move and believes it is a “scandal” that liver cancer sufferers in the UK are left with few treatment options.

Similarly, Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, told the BBC: “People with liver disease often face stigma and discrimination and sadly this decision feels like a further disadvantage to them.”

This NICE decision comes after the Department of Health announced the forming of the new National Strategy for Liver Disease last month.