Roche’s Alecensa gets green light for early access scheme

UK patients with a rare form of lung cancer will be able to access Roche’s Alecensa without the need for prior chemotherapy before official approval is obtained, following its inclusion in the country’s Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS). The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a positive Scientific Opinion allowing use of the drug on the scheme for first-line treatment of adults with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while it is being assessed for marketing authorisation by European regulators.