The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has published a new 10-point manifesto calling for action to speed up access to innovative cancer drugs after a survey revealed that patients many face barriers in receiving the latest treatments.
As many as 16% of cancer patients have been denied a drug recommended by their doctor (9%) or have experienced delays in receiving it (12%), and nearly half of those who have tried to enrol in clinical trials of new treatments have been unable to do so, the survey of 1064 patients found. A fifth of participants had tried to enrol in clinical trials of new treatments, but just over half were successful in doing so.
The survey also found that patients have major concerns about the role of pharmaceutical companies, with only 12% believing the industry is doing well at delivering new medicines. Patients overwhelmingly believe that the high prices charged by pharmaceutical companies are the biggest barrier to gaining access to new cancer drugs, with 70% saying they thought the prices charged by companies were much too high.
The ICR’s manifesto recommends that NICE should prioritise genuinely innovative cancer treatments that attack cancer in brand new ways. Furthermore, it says, drug regulators need to be more flexible in assessing evidence, so that new treatments can reach patients as quickly as possible. It calls for more research and clinical trials for children, and for flexibility on age limits for trials to avoid denying older children and young adults access to new treatments.
The organisation also calls for radical action to bring down the extremely high prices of modern cancer drugs, such as tying prices to the clinical benefits delivered by the treatment. Rival drug companies should be incentivised to trial their medicines together, the ICR adds.
