'Potential pathway' to girl's cancer drug, MP says

The family of a young girl with cancer has been told by an MP there is a potential route to getting drug treatment on the NHS that is currently unavailable.

Five-year-old Annabel Ashmore, from Gateshead, needs to start a two-year treatment by November to reduce the risk of her stage four neuroblastoma returning.

Her parents are currently trying to raise £105,000 to pay for the treatment in the US.

Labour MP Mark Ferguson said: "It is difficult to get drug approvals done as quickly as possible but I think there is a potential pathway there and every single effort is being explored."

The drug difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) is awaiting approval for use in the NHS but is available in Australia and the US.

It needs to be administered within three months of the patient completing immunotherapy, which means Annabel needs it by November at the latest.

Last week the Gateshead Central and Whickham MP raised Annabel's case in Parliament, prompting the prime minister to say the government would ensure the licencing process would be "completed as quickly as possible".

The prime minister praised Annabel's "incredible bravery" and said the manufacturers of DFMO had applied for a UK licence through Project Orbis which "allows the rapid review and approval of new cancer treatments".

Mr Ferguson said: "I've been in meetings this week and I'll be in meetings next week.

"I've committed to the family that I will do absolutely whatever I can to support them.

"If there's any door I can knock on to help Annabel or anybody else in the same situation, then absolutely I'll do that."

Mr Ferguson said Annabel's family would be meeting ministers soon to discuss the situation.

"The critical thing is to make sure that Annabel gets access to this drug," he said.

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