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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Andrew Gregory Health editor

Patient dies and three hospitalised in Sciensus chemotherapy incident

Stock image of a patient receiving chemotheraphy
Stock image of a person receiving chemotheraphy. The four patients received unlicensed versions of cabazitaxel, a licensed chemotherapy used to treat prostate cancer. Photograph: Bella West/Alamy

A cancer patient has died and three others have been hospitalised after they were administered unlicensed versions of chemotherapy by Sciensus, a private company paid millions by the NHS to provide essential medication, the Guardian can reveal.

Three health regulators have launched inquiries into the incident, according to people familiar with the matter. It was caused by an issue at the firm’s medicines manufacturing unit.

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