'I'll challenge ban on kidney drugs until I die'

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Health watchdog Nice rejected four cancer drugs that can prolong life for six months, saying they are not cost effective.

London quantity surveyor David Blackett, who takes one of the drugs, pledged to fight the ruling until he dies. Cancer charities also condemned the decision, which leaves patients with only one, much less effective, drug, interferon.

The rejected drugs, Sutent, Avastin, Nexavar and Torisel, are used in patients with advanced or rare kidney cancer. They cost £20,000-£35,000 a year. Nice director Professor Peter Littlejohns said the drugs "are effective, but regrettably, they are not a costeffective use of NHS resources".

He said the drugs relieve symptoms of advanced kidney cancer but cannot cure it.

Cancer Research UK's Professor Peter Johnson said the drugs "show a small but definite improvement in an illness where there are few alternative treatments".

Mr Blackett, 65, was diagnosed with cancer in January. He was advised to pay for Sutent himself by his consultant. His wife's work health insurance meets the cost but she wants to retire. He said: "It costs £3,400 for a four-week course. I know it will not save my life but I have been told it could give me an extra four years. I will fight the Nice decision until the day they screw the lid down on my coffin."

The Nice announcement is draft guidance and subject to appeal.