The improved access to novel and breakthrough therapies through new Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) has benefitted thousands of patients with cancer. The fund is also expected to discharge £140 million into the National Health Service (NHS) over the course of 5 years.
Ever since its inception in July 2006, the CDF has been a boon for patients with cancer, with ~15,700 patients having benefitted from 52 drugs across 81 cancer types.
8 therapies which were previously funded through the old CDF have been discounted for NHS England, which is likely to result in savings of £140 million in the next 5 years. Under the new CDF, the NICE appraisal process will start much earlier with the goal of publishing the draft guidance before the licensing of drugs.
As opposed to before, patients are now getting access to new cancer medications at least 4 months earlier with reformation in the CDF. Patients will have access to all NICE-recommended cancer therapies immediately after publication of the positive draft guidance, regardless of their availability through routine NHS access or the CDF.
