Drugmakers 'outraged' at England's Cancer Drugs Fund decision to remove drugs from coverage

England’s Cancer Drugs Fund is overspent and 42 drugs are being reassessed as price caps are brought in for the first time. NHS England said the current system was unsustainable and that there were new drugs "that will do more for patients."

Pharmaceutical companies say they are "outraged" at a "fundamentally flawed" decision that will damage patient care as the National Health Service will deny access to a range of expensive cancer treatments. They have threatened legal action, according to reports by the Financial Times and public broadcaster the BBC.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron set up a separate pot of money in 2010 to give patients access to expensive drugs, irrespective of cost. The £280 million ($425 million)-a-year Cancer Drugs Fund is hugely popular and has been used by about 55,000 people. But as things stand it expects to be £100 million over budget by the end of the financial year, the BBC noted. A full NHS England announcement on which drugs are being struck off the approved list is expected on Monday, but rejected drugs companies have started to break ranks.