The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence today announced it would delay a decision on whether to back the prescription of four kidney cancer drugs, including Sunitinib.
In August, Nice issued draft guidance ruling the life-extending drug too expensive.
Nice had been expected to issue final guidance on the drug in January, but now that is not expected to happen for several months.
Oxfordshire kidney cancer campaigners fighting for the right to receive the drug reacted with frustration at the delay.
Until Nice makes a decision, it is up to local primary care trusts whether to prescribe the drug and Oxfordshire PCT is said to have one of the most strict policies against its prescription in the country.
Nice said it had delayed its decision in light of new information received by the company that manufacturers the drug, which costs £27,000 per patient per year to prescribe.
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