|
UK insurer covers trastuzumab for early breast cancer
Posted: July 20, 2005
LONDON (Agence de Presse Medicale for Reuters Health) - The private British health insurer, BUPA, is to cover the use of Roche's Herceptin (trastuzumab) for women with early-stage breast cancer one year before the drug gains its expected approval as an adjuvant, the group said on Wednesday.
The announcement follows results from three major trials showing that, when used in an adjuvant setting for HER2 positive breast cancer, the treatment reduces the risk of the cancer recurring by up to 52%.
"Historically we have funded Herceptin as a treatment for late stage breast cancer in line with its current licence," Natalie-Jane Macdonald, medical director at BUPA Insurance, said in a statement.
"However, given the impressive results of recent trials, we have decided to fund it for the treatment of early stage breast cancer for HER2 positive patients because we believe it will directly benefit women with this diagnosis, and their families."
BUPA, which competes with the state-funded National Health Service, noted that the NHS only recommends funding trastuzumab for metastatic ER2 positive breast cancer.
Set up in 1947, the insurer claims to have 7.8 million customers in 180 countries. The policy on trastuzumab will apply initially only to the UK.
Go to top
Printer Friendly
E-Mail Article
|