Written question asked by Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 7 February 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 February 2017. It was answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 February 2017 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Palbociclib

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that palbociclib is made available to all eligible breast cancer patients.

Answer: Through its technology appraisal programme, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides independent, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether drugs and treatments represent a clinically and cost effective use of NHS resources. NICE is currently appraising Palbociclib in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for treating hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in adults. NICE published its draft guidance on 3 February and stakeholders have until 24 February to comment on its draft recommendations. NICE expects to publish its final guidance in June 2017.

Secondary information