The manufacturer of a drug which could extend the lives of thousands of people suffering from a rare form of cancer has agreed to pay for further patient treatment as part of a cost-cutting scheme.

The company PharmaMar has announced it will meet the expense of the cancer drug, called trabectedin, if a patient needs it beyond a fifth cycle.

The decision by NICE means the lives of people suffering with advanced soft tissue sarcoma could be extended by at least three months.