Aberavon AM welcomes news that breast cancer drug is approved for use in Wales

David Rees, Assembly Member for Aberavon welcomes today’s news that following negotiations with manufacturer Roche, Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced that breast cancer drug Kadcyla®, will be routinely available on the Welsh NHS.

Roche has now agreed with NHS Wales the same commercial access agreement as NHS England. This means that Welsh patients with certain types of advanced breast cancer will be able to benefit from the treatment.

The Welsh Government’s £80 million New Treatment Fund has been designed to ensure new medicines such as Kadcyla® can be made available as soon as possible, and certainly within two months of the recommendation from NICE.

Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething, said:
“I am very pleased to be able to announce that Kadcyla® has been approved for use in Wales following negotiations with the manufacturer.

“We are committed to improving the introduction of innovative, evidence-based, treatments, which is why we’ve introduced an £80 million treatment fund in Wales. The fund will be used to ensure patients get fast-access to this innovative, life-prolonging drug.”

David Rees AM added: “I am delighted that the Welsh Labour Government has agreed Kadcyla® for use in the Welsh NHS. Patients from Aberavon, and across Wales, who have been diagnosed with breast cancer will now have access to this life-prolonging drug through the Welsh NHS.”

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