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A significant breakthrough is set to benefit thousands of men in England as a prostate cancer drug known for extending life, abiraterone, will soon be made widely accessible through the NHS. Unlike Scotland and Wales, where this medication has been available since 2023, England and Northern Ireland had restricted its use mainly to the most advanced cases—until now. This change means that high-risk prostate cancer patients in England, whose cancer has not yet spread, will be eligible for the drug, potentially preventing hundreds of deaths.
Abiraterone, which works by depriving prostate cancer of the hormones it requires to grow, is already prescribed for men with advanced metastatic prostate cancer across the UK. The new NHS policy will expand its use to include earlier-stage, high-risk patients, aiming to halt further progression of the disease. Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, described the decision as “a momentous, life-saving victory for the thousands of men whose lives will now be saved.” The charity estimates that about 7,000 men annually in England will begin this treatment, with approximately 1,470 avoiding the advancement of their cancer and around 560 lives potentially saved.
Giles Turner from Brighton, diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in March 2023, was one of the driving forces behind this development. After learning that abiraterone was available on the NHS in other parts of the UK, Giles was “shocked and angered that my postcode meant I was denied free access to a treatment that could halve my risk of dying and give me the best chance of a cure.” Unable to wait, he opted to privately pay £250 per month for the drug. His personal campaign, alongside advocacy from the charity Prostate Cancer UK, pressured NHS England to reconsider despite initial funding refusals. Giles reflected on the announcement, stating, “Today’s wonderful news is the culmination of all our determined and dogged efforts. I’m beyond happy that men like me now have fair access to the most effective treatment, that so many lives will now be saved, and that so many families will be spared heartbreak.” However, he expressed frustration over the nearly three years it took to achieve this outcome.
The push for broader access to abiraterone was largely based on evidence from the STAMPEDE clinical trial, published in 2022, which demonstrated improved survival odds when the drug was used alongside standard care. The Institute of Cancer Research reported that two years of treatment with abiraterone cut the risk of cancer recurrence by half and reduced the risk of death by 40%. Despite this, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) had previously not approved the drug for newly diagnosed patients, partly due to the complex and lengthy approval process required, especially after abiraterone went off patent in October 2022. With patent protection lifted and the drug available as a generic, pharmaceutical companies had little financial motivation to pursue expanded licensing. While Scotland and Wales found ways to provide the medication within existing healthcare frameworks, England only recently secured the necessary funding, partially due to savings gained on other medicines.
National clinical director for cancer at NHS England, Professor Peter Johnson, highlighted the positive impact, stating, “The life-extending treatment available on the NHS within weeks will mean thousands of men can kick-start their year with the news that they will have a better chance of living longer and healthier lives.” Complementing this, the Health and Social Care Secretary emphasized the personal value of such treatments, noting, “When you’re living with prostate cancer, every day with your loved ones matters.” Prof Gert Attard, co-lead of the STAMPEDE trial, welcomed the decision: “This is a hugely welcome moment for patients. Our research showed clearly that abiraterone can save lives when offered earlier to men at high risk of their cancer spreading.” Meanwhile, efforts continue to ensure similar access in Northern Ireland, with Prostate Cancer UK actively advocating to politicians in Stormont, although no official response has yet been given
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