Please see below answers to some commonly asked questions regarding accessing belzutifan from outside the UK.
I live in a country outside the UK, can you help me access belzutifan?
Belzutifan is currently available in England, Scotland, Australia the United States and Canada. The charity understands that similar managed access in Wales will be available from November 5th, 2024.
Belzutifan is not yet available in the EU, but the process for marketing authorization has begun. VHL UK/Ireland has offered to aid in the appraisal process to make belzutifan available in the EU and we will help however we can. VHL Europa is the European VHL organisation that we anticipate will also be involved in the approval process for belzutifan in the EU. https://www.vhl-europa.org/
As a patient support charity, we are unable to donate funds or resources to individuals looking to obtain belzutifan in their country. For support in obtaining belzutifan, we recommend the following:
- Ask your doctors to contact their regulatory authorities to highlight the importance of approving belzutifan.
- Contact MSD, the company that makes belzutifan, and ask them about any Patient Access programs that they make have in your country. Find your local office at the link here: https://www.merckgroup.com/en/locations.html
- Enquire with your doctors or online if there are any belzutifan clinical trials running in your country.
- Reach out to your local rare disease or cancer charity. They may have the resources and country-specific information that can help in your plight to access belzutifan.
We hope we can soon live in a world where belzutifan is available to all!
Can I move to the UK to obtain belzutifan?
VHL UK/Ireland is a patient support charity that aims to raise money for VHL research and spread awareness of VHL disease. We are not able to give advice on an individual’s position on whether they can or should move to the UK. We implore you to read the following information, and to obtain immigration advice before making any decision on moving to the UK.
https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-entitlements-migrant-health-guide
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/visiting-or-moving-to-england
Please note that having a diagnosis of VHL is not enough to guarantee access to belzutifan in the UK, you must also meet all the eligibility criteria. More information here: https://vhl-uk-ireland.org/frequently-asked-questions/
Please do not make plans to move to the UK before seeking clinical advice to confirm you meet the criteria for treatment.
