The health watchdog has launched a probe after a pharmaceutical company gave ‘unlicensed’ chemotherapy medicine to a cancer patient who then died.
Sciensus – which provides treatment to around 200,000 in the UK – admitted it had given an unlicensed version of prostate cancer medicine cabazitaxel to four patients.
One died and the three others were treated in hospital in April. DailyMail reports.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) offered its ‘deepest sympathies’ and vowed to take ‘any necessary regulatory measures’ to protect patients.
The Care Quality Commission and the General Pharmaceutical Council are aiding MHRA in its investigation.
A spokesman for Sciensus said ‘an isolated incident at our medicine manufacturing unit in April has affected four patients.
‘We are deeply saddened that one of the patients has since died and wish to offer our sincere condolences to the patient’s family and friends.
‘As soon as the incident was discovered, we immediately contacted the regulators, the patients and their doctors.
‘We are currently conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and are working with the regulators.’
