A manufacturer of a drug that combats cancer has submitted a fresh submission for general approval on the NHS.

Roche, which makes Kadcyla, was at the centre of a political row on Thursday following the case of a cancer patient who could not access the drug on the NHS.

Scottish Labour leader brought up the case of Anne Maclean-Chang at First Minister's Questions.

Mrs Maclean-Chang, who raised £90,000 to access the drug privately, wrote to Nicola Sturgeon asking her to help her and other cancer patients.

The First Minister's office then contacted NHS Grampian, which subsequently granted Maclean-Change use of the drug on the NHS.

On Thursday, Sturgeon said: "We have asked the company that manufacturers the drug to bring forward a new application at a fair price, so that the drug can, I hope, be generally approved."

Roche has told STV News it has have already submitted a fresh application to the Scottish Medicines Consortium, the body that approves drugs for the NHS.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: "On September 2, Roche filed a new submission with the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for Kadcyla as a single agent for the treatment of adult patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who previously received trastuzumab and a taxane, separately or in combination.

"Roche is committed to pricing its medicines responsibly and this re-submission is based on a Patient Access Scheme which improves the cost effectiveness of Kadcyla, making it more affordable.

"We are hopeful that our proposed scheme is acceptable to the SMC."

Roche also asserted it had offered interim usage on the NHS through the patient access scheme while the SMC decides on the application but the Scottish Government "chose not to facilitate this".

The company estimates around 100 people in Scotland are eligible for treatment with Kadcyla.

Scottish Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: "When around 100 patients in Scotland could benefit from the drug, it is incredibly disappointing that the SNP government turned that option down.

"The postcode lottery element of access to new medicines that remains in place is fundamentally unfair and a source of great frustration to many patients in Scotland."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government has no role in considering commercial arrangements between pharmaceutical companies and the NHS.

"We believe that Roche understand how the medicines assessments and procurement procedures work in Scotland.

"On this occasion Roche were advised to approach the Patient Access Scheme Assessment Group directly.

"We hope the company's resubmission to the Scottish Medicines Consortium is at a fair price to allow it to be considered for approval for use in the NHS in Scotland."

An SMC spokesman confirmed a new application has been made by Roche.

He said: "We can confirm that we have received a resubmission to evaluate trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer.

"We will make our announcement to the NHS in Scotland when we have completed our assessment of the submission."

The SMC have been approached for comment.