ACCESS TO VORASIDENIB IN THE UK

When news first broke of the successful trials of Vorasidenib on Low Grade Glioma (LGG) brain tumour patients, many patients and their families were of the opinion that, at last, there was hope for the future.

LGGs afflict mainly young people – some have not finished their education, many have just begun their careers, some are hoping to start a family whilst some already have children.  All are desperate for an effective treatment to enable them to live their lives as fully as possible.

Vorasidenib is now being dispensed by some Neuro oncology centres in the UK via an ‘early access’ scheme.  The criteria for this is that patients, as in the trials, LGG patients with IDH1/2 mutation have had surgery but not further treatments i.e. radio/chemotherapy.  This of course means quite a significant quantity do not qualify.  We are of the belief that new trials on these patients would maybe have to take place before this fact changes and so are now asking that these take place at an early date.

Vorasidenib is now going through the appraisal stage with NICE.  Astro Brain Tumour Fund are involved in the process and it is hoped that approval will be granted later in the year.