Cancer patients offered trial drugs

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The Department of Health has given approval for a new unit at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, where patients with no other hope of recovery will be given drugs previously untested on humans.

It currently takes an average of 10 years to get a new drug approved, but doctors are hoping to halve that length of time for cancer medication.

Professor John Gribben from Barts and The London NHS Trust said: "We're not talking about cutting any corners in terms of patients' safety.

"We would argue that for patients who've got cancer 10 years is too long to wait and we've got to try to cut that period down as much as possible."

Blood samples will be analysed within a day and the treatment only continued if it proves effective.

Patients will be given a tiny dose at first to minimise the risk, and only those who have failed to respond to existing medication will take part.

Mr Gribben added: "What we're looking for is drugs that will kill the cancer cells but leave the rest of the patient intact. We're always prepared for very unexpected effects.

"We know for each product that comes along what the potential side effects might be, and we've got staff who spend a lot of time counselling patients before they sign up to make them aware of the risks and potential lack of benefits."

The unit, which will be officially opened next month, is the first of a network of 19 centres being set up across the country. The initiative is being funded by the Department of Health and Cancer Research who are providing £400,000 per year.