Top doctors call on Scottish MPs to back Off-patents Drugs Bill

Cheap drugs could change the lives of those suffering from illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and breast cancer if the law is changed according to top doctors who have called on Scottish MPs to support a new bill going through Parliament next week.

Scottish doctors have led calls from 40 clinicians to make off-patent drugs available for new uses on the NHS by supporting the Off-patents Drugs Bill at Westminster next week.

Many drugs could be “repurposed” to deal with conditions they were not originally intended for, such as the use of an osteoporosis drug for the treatment of breast cancer.

At present, pharmaceutical companies patent drugs in order to protect their investment but when these patents expire it is no longer profitable for them to sponsor treatments through tests and approval for use on the NHS.

The bill would impose a legal duty on the government to step in where companies fail to act.

Professor Mike Dixon, a consultant breast surgeon at Edinburgh’s Breast Unit at the Western General Hospital, said: “Politicians have an opportunity to introduce a system that will remove barriers to cheap off-patent drugs being available for new innovative purposes.

“They have the power in their hands to unlock these drugs to benefit breast cancer patients across the UK.

“These off-patent drugs are not expensive and give clinicians more options. We need to have a system in place that helps the health service across the UK get these drugs to patients as quickly as possible.”

MS Society Scotland also called on Scottish MPs to support the bill.

Morna Simpkins, director for the MS Society in Scotland said: “Right now there are low-cost drugs that could have a positive impact on MS but aren’t routinely available to people on the NHS.

“The main reason for this is that there is no financial incentive for pharma companies to seek approval for off-patent drugs to be used for another purpose or condition.

“We don’t believe it is fair that off-patent drugs don’t reach the people who could benefit from them because there isn’t system for repurposing.

“We are asking our Scottish MPs to consider the impact on the lives of people with MS, and the range of other conditions that could benefit from more drugs, and vote in support of this bill to put a much needed mechanism in place.”

Dr Belinda Weller, a consultant neurologist in Edinburgh said: “We all know that Scotland has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. What people don’t know so well, is that we also have world-leading research happening right here on our doorstep.

“In fact this research is showing some very promising trials on repurposing drugs. Not only do these drugs cost less, potentially saving our NHS money, but they can be taken from lab to clinic in a much shorter timescale.

“This research should act as a wake-up call to the UK government to stop dragging its heels on this crucial issue and put in place a mechanism to make these drugs available.”