The Velcade Three
Article: Notes from Health Minister Ann Keen’s meeting with Ms Jacky Pickles
Ms Pickles began the meeting by stating that she had previously met with Sir Mike Rawlins, Chairman of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and Professor Mike Richards, National Cancer Director.
Ms Pickles commented that the meetings with both Sir Mike Rawlins and Professor Richards had been really helpful and had increased mutual understanding – they had discussed treatment for first relapse and what therapies were available for further relapses.
Ms Pickles wanted to know whether clinical consultants who dealt with multiple myeloma were involved in NICE appraisals on Velcade and Revlimid. She also wanted to know what was the evidence behind NICE’s claim that Velcade offers 7 months life extension at 1st relapse. Sir Mike Rawlins is happy to discuss these points directly with Ms Pickles.
Ms Pickles stated that in her view, the Revlimid appraisal process was faster and more straightforward than the appraisal of Velcade.
It was stated that there were a number of factors affecting the speed of the Revlimid appraisal including the existence of a Patient Access Scheme (PAS), NICE’s end of life flexibilities and the fact that the NICE process has become more timely. (In the case of Velcade, a PAS was also offered and the first of its kind but was offered at the time the appraisal went to appeal).
One of Ms Pickles’s ongoing concerns was that she got emails from patients who have had Velcade turned down because consultants had difficulty with the varying paperwork. Patients usually received the drug eventually, but only after a delay of some weeks. Ms Pickles made the suggestion of standardised paperwork. Department of Health officials said they would discuss this issue further with clinicians and managers.
The meeting ended on a very positive note with Ms Pickles thanking Ms Keen and all those who had contributed to making the right drugs available to sufferers of multiple myeloma.
It was agreed that much progress had been made in the treatment of myeloma, and cancer in general, and it was important that this message should be relayed to the public.
Copyright © The Velcade Three, 2010.