High cost of Nexavar could not be justified said NICE

The fund is to be set up by the Government next year to give patients access to treatments the NHS cannot afford.

However, the Pamela Northcott Fund wants it set up sooner, following the drugs watchdog decision to block the use of Nexavar.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) said the treatment was too expensive.

It extends life by less than three months on average, costing £27,000 a patient.

NICE indicated last year it was unwilling to give the health service the green light to fund the drug – and this week it rejected an appeal by the manufacturer Bayer.

Kate Spall, founder of the Pamela Northcott Fund, which supports patients who are struggling to get access to drug treatment, said: “While the policy pledge is due in April 2011, today we are asking the government to bring this date forward.

“We are not talking about a lot of patients – there are only about 400 who need this drug – so I don’t see why it can’t be done as soon as possible.”

The cancer fund was one of the Conservative’s high-profile promises during the election campaign.

It is to be funded from savings made by blocking Labour’s plan to raise national insurance contributions for employers.

However, exact details of how it will work have not been released.

A department of Health spokesman said behind the scenes talks were still taking place.

“We will be releasing ore details about the policy and funding behind the new cancer drug fund soon,” he added.

Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: “The drug does not provide enough benefit to patients to justify its high cost.”