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Statement by Minister Harris on compassionate access programme
The Minister for Health, Simon Harris today (Wednesday) welcomed the decision by the manufacturer to show compassion throughout the approval process of the cancer drug Nivolumab by extending their compassionate access programme for patients with advanced lung cancer for a period of 30 days to the end of June 2016.
“I am pleased that Bristol-Myers Squibb have responded positively to my call to show compassion to patients being treated with the drug Nivolumab. I also welcome the confirmation by the company that all patients currently receiving treatment under this programme will continue to receive treatment.
“A number of drugs, including the one referred to, are currently being considered by the HSE under the national medicines pricing and reimbursement assessment process. I have asked the HSE to conclude their deliberations as a matter of urgency.”