Corrected: Northwest Bio drug gets first slot under UK early access scheme

Northwest Biotherapeutics

16/09/2014 16:52

(Removes reference to inoperable tumours in 1st paragraph) 
    LONDON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - An experimental Northwest 
Biotherapeutics  NWBO.O  drug for brain tumours is the first 
medicine to have been selected for fast-track designation under 
a new early access scheme in Britain. 
    The U.S. firm's cell therapy DCVax-L has been awarded 
"promising innovative medicine" status, which is the first step 
in the scheme that allows access to novel drugs months or even 
years before they are officially licensed for sale, the 
department of health said on Tuesday. 
    The initiative, which has similarities with a U.S. scheme 
that has speeded the development of so-called "breakthrough" 
medicines, follows criticism that Britain's state-run healthcare 
system is too slow to adopt new treatments.  ID:nL6N0MA43O  
    Doctors will be able to prescribe the new drug once the 
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the 
country's drugs watchdog, signals that its benefits outweigh the 
risks following an initial scientific assessment. 
    The new early access programme is funded by drug companies.  
 
 (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Jason Neely) 
 ((ben.hirschler@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 5082; Reuters 
Messaging: ben.hirschler.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))