Thousands of men with advanced prostate cancer in England drugs should be offered that can halve the risk of death.
In the guidance published on Friday, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) gave the green light to darolutamide, which targets disease by starving cancer cells and has fewer side effects than existing treatments.
At least 6,000 men a year with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer will have access to the new treatment, also known as Nubeqa and developed by Bayer. National Health Service.
Darolutamide, taken two tablets twice a day, blocks hormones that promote cancer growth. Treatment is done in conjunction with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a hormone therapy that lowers testosterone levels.
According to Nice, the data show that the treatment combination is better than using ADT alone and is as effective as other combination treatments.
Helen Knight, director of drug evaluation at Nice, said: “I am delighted that we can recommend this new combination treatment, which provides another much-needed option for people with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
“We are determined to ensure that effective treatments such as darolutamide, which can help extend people's length and quality of life, are quickly available to the people who need them.”
For patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, where the disease has spread to other parts of the body, treatment options usually include ADT, either alone or in combination with other drugs.
Trials show the addition of darolutamide to standard ADT. reduces the risk of death by 46% compared with ADT alone, with evidence suggesting it is as effective as other combination treatments already recommended by Nice and available on the NHS.
Charitable organization “Prostate” Cancer The UK said the new drug offers men a “gentler” treatment option with fewer side effects than ADT when combined with other treatments. This may benefit older men or those who cannot benefit from current treatments.
Amy Rylance, deputy director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Darolutamide is an important new treatment that gives thousands of men with incurable prostate cancer another effective option that can halve the risk of death.
“Although it is as effective as existing medications, it has fewer side effects. We hope this will make it easier for more men to benefit from these treatments, because too many men are now missing out on treatments that can extend their lives.”
“It's great that new drugs like this are being approved, but it's only the first step – which is why the government must ensure the new national cancer plan includes steps to ensure the right treatments reach the men who need them.”
Rylance said she had concerns that some men who were now eligible for the drug would still be unable to access it due to the “postcode lottery” in England.
She highlighted data from a recent national audit of prostate cancer, which found that less than half (47%) of men with advanced prostate cancer received the latest recommended treatments.
Peter Johnson, clinical director for cancer at NHS England, said: “This decision provides another welcome treatment option for patients living with advanced and aggressive prostate cancer.
“With several proven treatments already available on the NHS, this approval gives doctors and their patients more flexibility in choosing the approach best suited to individual circumstances and clinical needs.”
