THE HSE HAS given the green light for a new cancer drug to be made available in Ireland.

Regorafenib is used to treat a form of stomach cancer known as metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), and is expected to benefit as many as 250 patients per year.

It was previously not deemed to be a cost-effective option for mCRC.

The drug, with has clinically proven to be effective, is used where patients have either exhausted existing therapies or aren’t candidates for existing therapies, a spokesperson for the health service said.

It is also used for treating unresectable or metastatic gastsrointestinal stromal tumours, and could cost as much as €48,000 per year.

This is less than Soliris, a life-saving but expensive drug for patients suffering from a rare blood disorder that was recently approved for use despite its price tag of more than €430,000 per year.

“[Regorafenib] was under consideration by the National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) which developed clinical guidelines and protocols under the NCCP Therapeutic Review Process,” the statement from the HSE read, adding that agreement was reached with pharmaceutical manufacturer Bayer that the product will be reimbursed by the Primary Care Reimbursement Service.

The Irish Cancer Society has welcomed the decision, adding that patients should have access to drugs that are both clinically significant and appropriately priced.

“While many new cancer drugs have been made available to patients in Ireland, the limitations of the health budget mean that difficult future decisions are being made every day about which drugs the country can afford and which it cannot,” a spokesperson added.

‘It will save my life’: HSE to give more patients Soliris drug despite ‘astronomical price’ >