Leukaemia: Drugs

Anne Milton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to assess Dasatinib for the treatment of chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia (a) in the first instance and (b) after prior therapy with Imatinib; how many representations she has received on Dasatinib; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint
Dasatinib is licensed for the treatment of adults with chronic, accelerated or blast phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy including Imatinib. Dasatinib is also licensed for the treatment of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoid blast CML with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy. The Department has no plans to commission a further assessment of Dasatinib at this time.

It will be for primary care trusts at a local level to decide whether to make this drug available to patients who might benefit from it.

The Department has received a number of representations about Dasatinib in the form of written correspondence and parliamentary questions.