Firm will continue giving cancer drug to patients while awaiting HSE decision

One of the companies which makes new cancer drugs, under review by the HSE for possible approval, is extending its compassionate access programme for people with advanced lung cancer for one month.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) was responding to a plea from Minister for Health Simon Harris for the firms, behind Nivolumab (nivo) and Pembrolizumab (pembro), to continue to provide the medication under a compassionate access programme which had closed to new patients earlier this year.

Mr Harris made the call as the HSE continued a review into the possible approval of the drug, ahead of any decision possibly being referred back to the Department of Health due to a measure introduced in the last budget by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform, which said any decision on drugs that cost more than €45,000 per patient per year must be approved by Government.