Mystery sponsor funds cancer drug

Sutent has been shown to slow down tumour growth

A kidney cancer patient who was refused a life-saving drug on the NHS has been given hope, after a mystery benefactor offered to pay for the treatment.

Jack Rosser, 57, from Kingswood, South Gloucestershire, was told Sutent could prolong his life.

But he was unable to persuade his primary care trust (PCT) to fund the �3,000 a month cost of the drug.

After his plight was highlighted by a cancer campaign group, a US hedge fund manager has come forward to help.

Mr Rosser was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year and learned he may only have two years only to live.

Despite being told by doctors that Sutent could lengthen his life, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has said the drug is not cost effective, so PCTs are not obliged to prescribe it on the NHS.

'Burst into tears'

After hearing his story, an anonymous New York hedge fund manager contacted the British cancer campaign group, the Pamela Northcott fund, which told Mr Rosser of the offer.

"I burst into tears after all the pressure," he said.

"This was 11.30 at night when we had this come through. It was a total shock, totally unexpected, we didn't think there [were] such nice people out there reading our stories."

Kate Spall, from the Pamela Northcott fund, said if it could be proved that the drug helped Mr Prosser it would boost his case for it to be prescribed on the NHS.

"As soon as we can prove he has clinical benefit, we can put in another appeal," she said.

"It's going to make our case much, much stronger.

"Most importantly, Nice are due to give a positive recommendation for Sutent in January, so we're hoping that by the time Jack needs to pay for it, it will be free on the NHS anyway."

Sutent has been shown to slow down tumour growth.

It is one of a number of cancer drugs which have been at the centre of so-called postcode lotteries, in which patients in one area may be denied a drug on the NHS, but would be granted treatment in another area.

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