Better, cheaper cancer drugs ‘may be too late’

Patients who could die because of new cancer drug delays have to take a less effective medication that is just as expensive, a leading oncologist has claimed.

John Crown said it is likely that the new drugs will be approved sometime this year, but it could be too late for a small number of patients, who need them now.

Prof Crown said cancer specialists have to give patients another drug, called ipilimumab, also known as ipi, which is not as good; is more toxic; and just as expensive as the new drugs.