New deal gives Welsh cancer patients access to latest drugs

A deal has been announced by the Welsh Government to give cancer patients in Wales access to new drugs which aren't routinely available.

The agreement with pharmaceutical company Novartis is the first of its kind in Wales, and will allow patients access to the medicine ' everolimus'.

Marketed under the trade names 'Afinitor' and 'Votubia', it can treat certain types of advanced renal, pancreatic and breast cancers.

It can also be used to treat non-cancerous brain and kidney tumours.

As part of the agreement Novartis will also invest £1.3 million in Wales, to set up a study on breast cancer.