About 9,000 men with one of the most advanced forms of prostate cancer are eligible for a new life-extending drug thanks to a fast-track deal.
The NHS in England is the first healthcare provider in Europe to introduce darolutamide in patients whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Trials of the drug showed that the chance of living longer increased by a third in men who were previously untreated.
The drug works by blocking androgen receptors in cancer cells, which in turn blocks the action of testosterone, allowing the cancer cells to survive and multiply.
A 3D view of cancer cells attacking and growing a human cell
Darolutamide, also known by the brand name Nubeqa, may help prolong the life of prostate cancer patients
Darolutamide, also known by the brand name Nubeqa, is already available to some patients with localized prostate cancer on the NHS.
This offer is now being extended to those whose cancer has spread after NHS England signed an early access agreement.
The drug is usually taken as a pill with food and in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and docetaxel chemotherapy.
The study, conducted at nearly 300 sites around the world, found that patients who received darolutamide had a 32.5 percent lower risk of death than those who received ADT and docetaxel alone.
The health service said it would start offering the drug to eligible prostate cancer patients within weeks. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and around 47,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in England.
Almost 9,000 have aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
NHS Director Amanda Pritchard said: “It’s fantastic that patients in England will be the first in Europe to receive this treatment for a very advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer thanks to the NHS’s fast-tracking of a new medicines agreement. “
Chiara De Biase, Director of Support and Advocacy at the charity Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The news that you have advanced prostate cancer can be devastating and we urgently need new treatments to help these men live longer.
“So it’s fantastic that thousands of men are getting early access to darolutamide alongside traditional hormone therapy and chemotherapy, which can significantly improve their survival.”
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Director for Cancer, said: “We know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and it is vital that the NHS continues to diagnose patients as early as possible and expand our arsenal of advanced treatments to improve people’s health survival chances.
“Building on the NHS’s commitment to improving cancer treatment and survival, this innovative treatment will help thousands of men diagnosed with prostate cancer to live better lives and reduce their risk of dying by a third.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
