WOMEN in Scotland who are diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer or who suffer a relapse of the disease will be unable to access a drug available to patients in England.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) said it was not cost effective to recommend bevacizumab – brand name Avastin – on the NHS to treat women with recurrent ovarian cancer.

The move follows a previous ruling against recommending the drug for use in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Avastin is used in Europe and available to women in England through its unique Cancer Drugs Fund, but has also been rejected by drug authorities in Wales and Northern Ireland.

Patients in Scotland are only able to access drugs rejected by the SMC if their doctors pursues an individual patient treatment request on their behalf.

Professor Charlie Gourley, Professor and Honorary Consultant in Medical Oncology at the University of Edinburgh, said: "It is extremely disappointing that oncologists in Scotland who treat women with recurrent ovarian cancer do not have access to Avastin.

"The negative SMC decision and the lack of a Cancer Drugs Fund in Scotland will prevent patients benefitting from an extra four months without the signs and symptoms of their disease."