Isita finishes her fourth cycle of immunotherapy late this evening (Friday) and all being well, will have concluded the entire course by mid-August. Our joy at her improving condition and the hope that we have from the potential benefit she will get from the Dinutuximab Beta treatment has always been tempered by the possibility that other children at earlier stages of treatment than her might not get access to it. This is no longer a concern.
Yesterday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) unexpectedly recommended that the drug be provided on the NHS. It has worked out a mutually acceptable price with EUSA Pharma, the company that makes it. From a very difficult moment earlier this year when we feared that the drug might be suddenly withdrawn from everyone including Isita, via an interim stage when her treatment and that of a few other children was guaranteed, now all children who need it will get it – a result that was universally desired but far from guaranteed.
The company and the people at NICE have worked hard on this, and the doctors here at GOSH and at Southampton have also been strongly but calmly insistent. The publicity from Channel 4’s wonderful Victoria Macdonald has also helped. She committed to the story right at the beginning and made it an issue that couldn’t be ignored. High-risk neuroblastoma is a hell of a disease. It is really encouraging to feel this communal determination to treat the children who suffer from it, and to see that determination translated into action.
Isita 
Those are two fantastic pieces of news!
Take care!
Jaime
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WHAT good news ! Phew!!! When I read good news from Nice I thought you had gone to the South of France…. that would have been a huge leap! Much much love from C and V
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Fabulous news. Sending you all our love. Rupert, Sara, Amelia, Kitty and Archie xxx
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Fantastic news!!
Good luck for the next stage!
xx
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Thank you very much John and Marta for your generosity making the time to help others and giving visibility to this problem. This is really very encouraging. Welldone!!
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¡Gracias a Dios! Me alegro muchísimo. Aquí seguimos las noticias de Isita y su maravillosa familia con cariño y esperanza.
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I read that in the paper and was so pleased for everyone.
4th cycle seems to have flown by. Sad to miss you.
Have fun at home. Lol
Xhx
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Bravo to you and to yr adept media gang for the campaign – and to C4 news for keeping up the necessary spotlight to encourage the parties to the negotiating table. Such relieving, happy news. What a turnaround. Bravissimo!
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👍
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Ole
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