Kidney cancer drug given green light

A new drug to treat kidney cancer has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

Sunitinib can extend the life of patients by up to a year and marks a new approach by health authorities to drugs which offer only marginal benefits in the treatment of terminal illness.

The drug is manufactured by pharmaceutical firm Pfizer and is retailed under the name Sutent.

NICE's chief executive Andrew Dillon told the BBC that the decision had been made after taking consideration of public opinion.

He told the broadcaster: "Many people have made the point very strongly that they regard the ability of the NHS to extend life as being of special importance. And so we looked at the way our advisory committees go about valuing extension to life.

"We wanted to make sure that they had enough flexibility in all circumstances to make a recommendation where drugs have the ability to give people some additional life."

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