TARCEVA

Early day motion 849, tabled 25 October 2005 by Paul Flynn (Labour). Signed by 17 members.

That this House congratulates physicians and the pharmaceutical industry on their success in increasing the life expectancy of cancer patients and looks forward to further improvements; questions the use of propagandist direct mailing to honourable Members by Roche Pharmaceuticals advertising the drug Tarceva which may raise false hope among the terminally ill; notes that the drug costs £1,631 a month, creates serious adverse side effects, including death, in 10 per cent. of patients and increases life expectancy in pancreatic cancer patients by an average of only 12 days; and believes that honourable Members have no role in promoting the use of Tarceva until it has had a thorough scientific appraisal from the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.

Signatures by party: Labour 12, DUP 2, Liberal Democrat 2, Conservative 1.