Takeda’s Mepact has won approval from the SMC for the treatment of high grade non-metastatic osteosarcoma in children, adolescents and young adults aged between 2 and 30.

Following a resubmission Mepact will now be available to all eligible patients on NHS Scotland after it was shown to reduce the risk of death by almost a third.

Yasuhiro Fukutomi, Managing Director of Takeda UK, says the company has “always been committed” to achieving a “successful conclusion for osteosarcoma patients in Scotland”.

Osteosarcoma is a rare and often fatal form of bone cancer with approximately 150 new cases in the UK each year.

There have been no medical advances in the treatment of the condition in the last two decades. Current treatment is chemotherapy given before and after the tumour has been surgically removed (resection).

But for up to a third of newly diagnosed patients the cancer will return after surgery and standard chemotherapy, and between a third and half of all children and young adults will not survive beyond five years of being diagnosed.

Roger Paul, Chairman of the Bone Cancer Research Trust, welcomed the SMC’s decision.

“This is a fantastic result which means that children and young adults in Scotland have access to this treatment that has been shown to improve long-term survival in a large clinical trial,” he said.” There is strong support for Mepact from clinicians, patient groups, patients and their families alike, and the SMC’s recognition of the potential clinical benefits of Mepact is welcomed.”

Eight companies have been chosen to receive up to £100,000 funding each to help them develop medical technologies to support people with long-term health conditions.

The East of England Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI East) is investing in medical innovations that address the needs of the growing number of chronically ill patients by reducing acute admissions and delivering care in the community.

Of the 70 companies that applied for SBRI East funding this year, the eight selected are:

• Advanced Therapeutic Materials (Warwickshire) for its technology for long-term management of venous ulcers and circulatory failure. Data from a 3D imaging device is used to design customised compression garments.

• Aseptika (Huntingdon) for its rapid, home-based test for bacterial respiratory infections in patients with cystic fibrosis.

• Edixomed (Edinburgh) for its dressing for chronic diabetic leg ulcers. The system delivers nitric oxide directly to the wound, increasing blood flow.

• Sky Medical Technology (Cheshire) for its disposable adhesive device for self-treatment of an overactive bladder by external neuromuscular stimulation.

• Pintrack (Essex) for its Outminder independent living solution, which offers the user support as well as enabling the carer to deliver support remotely via a mobile device.

• PneumaCare (Cambridgeshire) for its non-contact respiratory assessment system, which can diagnose deterioration in patients with COPD.

• PolyPhotonix (Sedgefield) for its home-based treatment for diabetic retinopathy and AMD.

• Radisens Diagnostics (Cork, Ireland) to add a kidney disease test to its point-of-care blood analyser platform, which diagnoses and monitors various chronic conditions.

Karen Livingstone, Director of Strategic Partnerships at NHS East of England, said: “It is heartening to see British companies seeking to develop healthcare technologies to benefit those living with long-term conditions. These new technologies will mean that in the future, more people will be able to receive treatment in their own homes. This not only makes for an improved patient experience but also saves healthcare resources and costs.”

SBRI East is supported by NHS East of England, the European Regional Development Fund and the Technology Strategy Board.