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<p>The Government is committed to ensuring that patients have access to effective
treatments, including those for brain cancers, on terms that represent value to the
National Health Service and the taxpayer.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The National
Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible
for providing advice to the NHS on the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies.
NICE has recommended the following drugs for brain cancers as treatment options, subject
to certain clinical criteria, in its technology appraisal guidance published in June
2007:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- temozolomide (Temodal) for the treatment of
newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM); and</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>-
carmustine (Gliadel) implants, for the treatment of newly diagnosed high-grade glioma.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NHS commissioners are legally required to fund treatments recommended
by NICE technology appraisal guidance.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p>Where
a drug to treat brain cancer is not routinely available on the NHS, patients may be
able to access it through the Cancer Drugs Fund. Bevacizumab (Avastin) is available
for the third line treatment of low grade paediatric gliomas through the Fund.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are also commissioning an external review of the pathways
for the development, assessment, and adoption of innovative medicines and medical
technology. This review will consider how to speed up access for NHS patients to cost-effective
new diagnostics, medicines and devices.</p><p> </p>
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