Niraparib funding

Hello ladies In my attempt to research Niraparib as much as possible in case this parb is going to be my next option I read that it is currently funded via the Cancer Drug Fund......until June 2020. It will then be reviewed for NHS approval. Can anyone explain exactly what this means and how it effects ladies currently taking it or anyone like my self wishing to start taking it? And help greatly appreciated x

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team]

Hello lyn1987

When a drug is made available via the Cancer Drug Fund (CDF) it means that it looks like promising treatment but there isn't enough evidence for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to make it routinely available as NHS treatment.

(NICE is the organisation which considers evidence in order to decide which medicines should be accepted for use within the NHS in England.)

When NICE make treatment available through the CDF it means people can access the drug on the NHS and more data is collected about it before NICE reconsider the evidence, usually after 2 years, as with niraparib. They would then take a decision about whether a treatment would be made routinely available via the NHS.

What this means for people wanting to access it now is that your consultant would fill out the CDF form in order to prescribe it for you. It's straightforward and doesn't usually hold things up.

If you were taking niraparib via the CDF and NICE then decided it shouldn't be made available, you would still be able to continue the treatment and the drug company would fund it.

I hope this information is useful. Please do let me know if there is further information you need.

Best wishes

Anna

Ovacome Support

[Hidden in reply to OvacomeSupport]

Thank you Anna for clarifying that is a great help

[Doglover1410 in reply to OvacomeSupport]

Hi Anna, so if I have been on it since April 19 I’ll be ok as long as it keep working? Don’t want another thing to worry about!

[OvacomeSupport Partner My Ovacome Team in reply to Doglover1410]

Hi Doglover1410

Yes, if niraparib was made unavailable through the NHS but your team still felt you would benefit from it and you'd had it prescribed under the CDF, you would be able to continue taking it and the funding of it would switch from the CDF to the drug company.

Best wishes

Anna

[mrstadpole]

Hi Lyn

I have a feeling if my chemo is okay(Carbo then this may be my next step to have a PARP inhibitor. My consultant said it is an exciting new drug and is especially effective for BRCA 2 +which is my diagnosis. However it is available to all women who may benefit.

ovarian.org.uk/news-and-blo...

All the best

Ann