§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on trials for the drug Glivec for chronic myeloid leukaemia being conducted in the UK; how many patients are included in the trials; what the total cost of the trials will be; and if he will make a statement. [38411]
§ Yvette CooperThe Medical Research Council (MRC) is not currently funding any studies using Glivec.
However, the STI571 Prospective International Randomised Trial (SPIRIT) for newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukaemia—which proposed using Glivec—is under consideration, and a decision is expected from the MRC by July at the latest. Figures for numbers of patients and total cost have not been finalised. It is important to note that all clinical trial applications made to the MRC are considered in open competition for funding with all other calls on MRC resources.
Novartis, the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Glivec, have conducted pre and post licensing trials of Glivec for chronic myeloid leukaemia.