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Trastuzumab Emtansine

Question for Department of Health

UIN HL4970, tabled on 24 January 2017

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of the petition by Breast Cancer Now calling for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to reverse its decision not to recommend the advanced breast cancer drug Kadcyla for routine use on the NHS, and what is their response.

Answered on

3 February 2017

The Department is aware of Breast Cancer Now’s petition.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently appraising trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) for the treatment of HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer after treatment with trastuzumab and a taxane. NICE’s final guidance to the National Health Service on whether the drug should continue to be routinely available on the NHS is expected in March 2017.

It would not be appropriate for Ministers or officials to intervene in this independent process.