Rare Cancers Bill Passes Third Reading in House of Commons
The Rare Cancers Bill, led by Scott Arthur MP, has today passed its Third Reading in the House of Commons, bringing renewed hope to those affected by rare and less common cancers, including devastating childhood cancers such as neuroblastoma.
This milestone marks a crucial step forward in cancer care and research for patients facing less common cancers.
About the Bill
Scott Arthur MP introduced this Private Member’s Bill after the loss of his father-in-law to glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer. His personal experience inspired him to act on the urgent disparities in care, research, and survival outcomes faced by people with rare cancers.
The bill has seen support across the charity sector, led by The Brain Tumour Charity, Pancreatic Cancer UK, and Brain Tumour Research.
Why It Matters
Despite accounting for 47% of all cancer diagnoses and 55% of cancer deaths, rare and less common cancers continue to receive a fraction of the research attention and funding compared to more common cancers.
Around 180,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a rare or less common cancer each year.
More than 92,000 people die annually from these cancers.
Some rare cancers have 1-year survival rates of less than 50%.
From 2002 to 2014, less survivable cancers received only 16.6% of research funding compared to more survivable cancers.
A 2024 Cancer52 survey found that 82% of patients with rare or less common cancers were not offered a clinical trial.
What the Bill Aims to Achieve
The Rare Cancers Bill sets out to remove systemic barriers to research and innovation and incentivise research and investment into the treatment of rare cancers. It will achieve this by:
Appointing a named individual responsible for overseeing the delivery of research into rare cancer treatments.
Placing a duty on the Government to review the Orphan Drug Regulations, with respect to rare cancer treatments.
Ensuring that patients can be easily contacted about relevant research and clinical trials, thereby improving access to trials and the quality of trials in the UK.
What’s Next?
With the successful passage through the House of Commons, the Rare Cancers Bill now moves to the House of Lords, where it will undergo further scrutiny. The date for its introduction in the House of Lords is expected to be announced soon.
Thank You
We extend heartfelt thanks to Scott Arthur MP, Minister Ashley Dalton, and all the incredible charities, clinicians, patients, and advocates who have backed this vital legislation.
