ALIMTA AND TREATMENT FOR MESOTHELIOMA SUFFERERS

Early day motion 635, tabled 18 January 2010 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 43 members.

That this House is aware that the anti-cancer drug Alimta is enormously beneficial in the treatment of mesothelioma tumours; recalls that sufferers in Scotland and parts of England and Wales have had access to the drug via cancer networks and primary care trusts; is therefore alarmed that the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has indicated that it is not minded to recommend Alimta for prescription to patients despite its known efficacy; and calls on the Government to ignore such advice, which deals mainly with NICE's narrow definition of cost effectiveness rather than the clinical needs of sufferers.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, DUP 5, Liberal Democrat 4, Independent 3, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.