Hello and thanks for your enquiry,

I can appreciate that this has been difficult for you, and that you are trying to find out more about this drug.

Unfortunately, I can't source any current UK and/or NHS drug information about Teysuno. There is information on the European Medicines Agency about teysuno and how it is given.

It is made by Nordic Pharma.

In summary the EMA says,

For metastatic colorectal (bowel) cancer, Teysuno is taken on a 3-week repeating cycle.

• The Daily Schedule: It is an oral capsule taken twice a day (morning and evening) for 14 consecutive days.
• The Rest Period: This is followed by a 7-day rest period where no capsules are taken. This completes one 21-day cycle.
• How Long It Lasts: In the palliative setting (stage 4), treatment is typically continued indefinitely on a long-term basis, provided the cancer remains stable or shrinks, and the side effects remain tolerable. The oncologist will likely order scans every 2 to 3 months to monitor its effectiveness.

You would need to check this out with the consultant oncologist.

The drug company says, Teysuno contains a unique combination of three active ingredients (tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil) designed specifically to reduce these complications. The "oteracil" component actively works to block the drug's toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract, making it much less likely to cause the severe diarrhoea your husband experienced previously. Because of this, it is highly targeted for patients who are intolerant to standard treatments due to cardiotoxicity.

Because Teysuno is not widely or routinely commissioned on the NHS for colorectal cancer, his oncologist is trying to secure it via an Individual Funding Request (IFR) or an exceptional funding application through your local Trust. If the Trust rejects it, your oncologist can appeal if there is any new clinical evidence or a strong case for "exceptionality" (e.g., your husband's unique combination of severe cardiotoxicity and severe bowel toxicity from standard options).

You would need to ask about all the options available. Such as could it be provided as a private prescription whilst still remaining under NHS care for the appointments and blood tests.

I don't know the cost of this drug, but a hospital pharmamcist might be able to find out more for you.

I hope that this helps,

Best wishes,

Vanda

Hello and thanks for your enquiry,

I can appreciate that this has been difficult for you, and that you are trying to find out more about this drug.

Unfortunately, I can't source any current UK and/or NHS drug information about Teysuno. There is information on the European Medicines Agency about teysuno and how it is given.

It is made by Nordic Pharma.

In summary the EMA says,

For metastatic colorectal (bowel) cancer, Teysuno is taken on a 3-week repeating cycle.

• The Daily Schedule: It is an oral capsule taken twice a day (morning and evening) for 14 consecutive days.
• The Rest Period: This is followed by a 7-day rest period where no capsules are taken. This completes one 21-day cycle.
• How Long It Lasts: In the palliative setting (stage 4), treatment is typically continued indefinitely on a long-term basis, provided the cancer remains stable or shrinks, and the side effects remain tolerable. The oncologist will likely order scans every 2 to 3 months to monitor its effectiveness.

You would need to check this out with the consultant oncologist.

The drug company says, Teysuno contains a unique combination of three active ingredients (tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil) designed specifically to reduce these complications. The "oteracil" component actively works to block the drug's toxicity in the gastrointestinal tract, making it much less likely to cause the severe diarrhoea your husband experienced previously. Because of this, it is highly targeted for patients who are intolerant to standard treatments due to cardiotoxicity.

Because Teysuno is not widely or routinely commissioned on the NHS for colorectal cancer, his oncologist is trying to secure it via an Individual Funding Request (IFR) or an exceptional funding application through your local Trust. If the Trust rejects it, your oncologist can appeal if there is any new clinical evidence or a strong case for "exceptionality" (e.g., your husband's unique combination of severe cardiotoxicity and severe bowel toxicity from standard options).

You would need to ask about all the options available. Such as could it be provided as a private prescription whilst still remaining under NHS care for the appointments and blood tests.

I don't know the cost of this drug, but a hospital pharmamcist might be able to find out more for you.

I hope that this helps,

Best wishes,

Vanda

Hi Vanda firstly I must apologise for not replying to you sooner, especially as the information  you provided was so detailed and invaluable. I really appreciate your time and effort. Thanks so much