PRESS RELEASE
GRAHAM BRADY
Member of Parliament for Altrincham and Sale West
MP backs fight for fast access to life-saving treatments
Altrincham and Sale West MP Sir Graham Brady has backed a campaign by Muscular Dystrophy UK to give people with devastating muscle-wasting conditions faster access to life-saving treatments.
At Parliament this week (24 January), the charity held its first ever Fast Track event, bringing together people with muscular dystrophy, their MPs, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Sir Graham Brady heard how lengthy and unnecessary delays to the UK’s drug approval process is putting lives at risk. As many muscle-wasting conditions progress rapidly, fast access to treatments is crucial.
He is backing the charity’s call for:
· The NHS to be given more powers to negotiate good deals with pharmaceutical companies, to help streamline access to treatments
· A more appropriate NICE assessment model for rare disease drugs like Spinraza
· Early access schemes, which bring treatments to patients faster, to be implemented as soon as possible
Sir Graham said:
“As muscle-wasting conditions progress rapidly, people with muscular dystrophy must get rapid access to the new, breakthrough drugs that are emerging. Meeting those affected by this cruel condition really hit home just how much of a lifeline these treatments are. That’s why I’m supporting the Fast Track campaign.”
Nic Bungay, Director of Campaigns, Care and Information at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said:
“For people with muscle-wasting conditions, every day counts. Time and again we’ve seen how the UK lags behind other countries in Europe when it comes to getting life-saving treatments to patients as quickly as possible. With new treatments for muscular dystrophy on the horizon, we must tackle the barriers that prevent them getting to patients. We’re delighted to have Sir Graham Brady backing our campaign.”
Last week, people with the devastating muscle-wasting condition Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) were given fresh hope with the announcement of a scheme which could give them access to vital treatment earlier than expected. The scheme would give families access to
Spinraza – the first and only treatment for SMA – while it is being assessed for funding on the NHS by NICE. For babies with the most severe SMA type, life expectancy without access to the drug is rarely more than two years. However, the interim scheme does not guarantee access to treatment in the long term.
The charity is warning that with more rare disease drugs like Spinraza reaching the market, patients will face agonising waits to access them without urgent reform to the drug approval process.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.musculardystrophyuk.org/fast-track.
Photo shows Graham with David Hopkins from Muscular Dystrophy UK
ENDS