Kidney cancer patients have been offered hope after NICE announced it has approved a new drug to help treat the disease.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends pazopanib - also called Votrient - to be used as the initial treatment in patients with advanced kidney cancer in some cases.

Patients who are also fully active, apart from being able to perform strenuous activity, and have not previously had cytokine therapy are also eligible for the treatment, NICE said.

Manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will offer a 12.5% reduction on the list price with a possible refund linked to the findings of clinical trial.

Broadcaster James Whale, founder and chairman of the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer and a kidney cancer survivor, said: "Kidney cancer patients will find this approval of the cancer drug Votrient a great comfort.

"NICE has been fully aware that the mood of the government and the general public is that terminally-ill cancer patients should not be denied cancer treatment and, after the farce surrounding the refusal of Everolimus earlier last year, some good news is long overdue.

"As someone who has been directly affected by kidney cancer, I understand just how imperative access to these life-prolonging drugs is."

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