Asbestos drug delay

A chemotherapy drug for sufferers of the asbestosrelated cancer mesothelioma will not be available nationwide on the NHS until the autumn, if at all.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) said last month that it will not give guidance on the drug Alimta until September.

At present, Alimta is only available on the NHS in some parts of the UK, including Liverpool, the North East and London. NICE decided recently not to recommend its use across the NHS, but this decision is under review.