HL Deb 11 May 1970 vol 310 cc403-5
BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the drug "Intal" is already on sale in the United Kingdom, while it is still undergoing clinical trials before clearance in the United States and Common Market countries.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (BARONESS SEROTA)

My Lords, the Committee on Safety of Drugs examined evidence submitted to them and agreed in September, 1967, that they saw no objection to the marketing of "Intal" for the purposes proposed by the manufacturer. The drug was discovered and developed in this country, and neither the Committee nor the Government saw, or see, any reason to defer marketing here pending clearance elsewhere. The negotiation of arrangements for licensed production in other countries often takes a considerable time, with a resulting delay in submissions to the appropriate foreign drug registration authorities. The Government are not aware of any reason for delay which might be connected with the safety of the drug itself.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that Answer, may I ask whether she would not agree that, having regard to the scientific expertise which abounds in the United States and all the Common Market countries, it would be in the interests of the National Health Service, and indeed of the patient, if we pooled our information and waited until those countries also believed the drug was of proven value?

BARONESS GAITSKELL

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the drug "Intal" has been used extensively for some years at one of the leading teaching hospitals in London and has been a safe and effective drug in the treatment of asthmatic conditions, and that no serious side effects have been reported? And would not the Minister agree that there is something derogatory to British doctors in the idea that the Committee on Safety of Drugs must await clearance from Rome and the United States before they I can make recommendations?

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, I am certainly aware of the facts that the noble Baroness, Lady Gaitskell, has just pointed out. This drug is undoubtedly of value in certain forms of treatment for allergic bronchial asthma and has brought very great relief to sufferers from that particular complaint. I can assure the noble Baroness, Lady Summerskill, that if adverse reports on reactions to the use of this drug had been brought to the notice of the Safety of Drugs Committee and had indicated the need for a warning, Her Majesty's Government are certain that the Committee would have issued one. We are greatly indebted to the Committee, under the chairmanship first of Sir Derrick Dunlop and now of Professor Scowen, for the outstanding work they do in this field.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, although it has been mentioned before, would not my noble friend agree with me that the United States have time and time again proved that Britain has not always been right in this matter?

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, one can never be sure whether one is right. We can only provide the most effective and efficient machinery we have in this field, and, in my view, the distinguished Committee under the chairmanship of Professor Scowen is one whose word we should always heed.

LORD PLATT

My Lords, are Her Majesty's Government aware that in America there are constant complaints of delays in testing drugs in that country?

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, I am glad to know that all Governments and official bodies suffer from the same difficulty that we experience here.

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