BBC and BMJ report on NICE recommendation of Magtrace® for breast cancer staging
As reported by global news networks, Magtrace® has been recommended for use in sentinel lymph node biopsy procedures by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in draft guidance.
The Magtrace® lymphatic tracer was designed as a non-radioactive alternative for simplifying breast cancer staging, making it more convenient and widely available for physicians and patients, without compromising on clinical effectiveness.
This new guidance - as reported by outlets including the BBC, British Medical Journal and MailOnline - recommends Magtrace® as an effective solution for wide-scale use across the UK's NHS.
“This is a great example of NICE driving innovation into the hands of professionals to improve care” explained Jeannette Kusel, , Acting Director for MedTech and Digital at NICE.
The report explains how Magtrace® allows physicians 'improved efficiency in the use of their operating theatres' and to not have to 'rely on a daily supply of radioactive isotope or availability of nuclear medicine staff'.
With recent physician worries of difficulties in accessing radioactive tracers, and well known issues with Monday start times for sites using them, this news could not be more timely.
“The benefits of using this technology include the potential for more procedures to take place, reducing the reliance on radioactive isotopes shipped into the country and for less travel for people having a biopsy”.Jeanette Kusel, Acting Director for MedTech and Digital at NICE
Speaking about the news, the UK's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid said "We are always on the lookout for innovative treatments to speed up diagnosis and improve survival rates."
“This promising research could provide a new tool for our scientists to track and slow the spread of breast cancer, the most common cancer in the UK"Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care - UK
Receiving this draft recommendation and becoming the first lymphatic tracer to be noted by NICE is a huge step in demonstrating how a future without the burden of radioactive tracers is both feasible and highly effective, thanks to the advanced components of magnetic tracers.
With both Magtrace® and our Magseed® marker having also received Medical Innovation Briefings (MIB's) from NICE in the last 18 months, physicians can rest assured that our magnetic technologies are widely proven and ready to adopt.
With over 100,000 patients having now been treated with Magtrace® worldwide and more than 7,000 patients featured in Magtrace® clinical trial data too, there's never been a better time to make the switch.