A breast cancer drug used on women with an incurable strain of the disease has been rejected for use in Scotland.

Pertuzumab, under the Perjeta brand, which is used in conjunction with trastuzumab and docetaxel, came up for resubmission before the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

Use of the drug on women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, who have not previously had chemotherapy, showed an increase in halting the disease.

It has been rejected for the NHS in Scotland by the SMC, however, which found the cost in relation to any health benefits was "not sufficient" for its introduction.

The ruling from the governing body said: "For use in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel in adult patients with HER2-positive metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable breast cancer, who have not received previous anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for their metastatic disease.

"Addition of pertuzumab to current first-line treatment, trastuzumab plus docetaxel, significantly increased progression-free and overall survival for women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

"The submitting company's justification of the treatment's cost in relation to its health benefits was not sufficient to gain acceptance by SMC.

"This advice takes account of views from a Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) meeting."