Nadia Sawalha Urges Support for Breast Cancer Drug Appeal

TV personality Nadia Sawalha is spearheading a significant fundraising campaign to challenge the decision made by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) regarding the exclusion of a vital breast cancer treatment from the National Health Service (NHS). The campaign aims to raise £150,000 to launch a legal appeal against NICE’s rejection of Enhertu, a potentially life-saving drug for patients with secondary breast cancer.

Speaking to the press, Sawalha, a prominent figure in television known for her role on “Loose Women,” highlighted the urgency of the situation. “We only have a couple more days to reach the 150 grand target,” she stated, emphasizing the necessity of quick action to support those in need. The actress, along with three other women known as “The Fab Four,” is advocating for the availability of Enhertu on the NHS for HER2-low breast cancer patients.

Among those personally affected by this issue is Hannah Gardner, a close friend of Sawalha’s who is currently receiving Enhertu through a clinical trial. Due to delays and trial requirements, Gardner’s condition has complicated over time. Sawalha expressed the deep personal impact of the campaign, saying, “My friend Hannah at the moment is sick… and all day I’ve seen messages from her saying ‘working on this part of the campaign’.”

The group’s efforts include a recent fundraising initiative involving the auction of VIP tickets to “Loose Women,” featuring opportunities to meet the hosts and experience the show firsthand. Sawalha and her co-campaigners believe this effort is critical in light of NICE’s decision, which results in unequal access to Enhertu within the UK. The drug is already available in Scotland and 25 other countries but remains inaccessible to patients in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The campaigners plan to meet with Health Secretary Wes Streeting to seek governmental support in influencing this decision. Nadia Sawalha expressed hope that Streeting’s personal experience with cancer might generate understanding and action. “He doesn’t like the postcode lottery thing,” she remarked, highlighting Streeting’s previous comments regarding healthcare disparities.

The campaign represents the latest effort by the affected community to pressure NICE, which has stood by its decision citing the drug’s high cost. Enhertu’s manufacturers, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, criticize NICE’s evaluation processes, asserting that they fail to accommodate fair pricing of new therapies. Despite these challenges, Sawalha and her team remain determined to exhaust all avenues, including potential legal proceedings, to overturn the decision by NICE.