A life-extending breast cancer drug is now available on the NHS in England for people with a specific type of incurable breast cancer, following years of campaigning by patients and charities.
Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) is a targeted treatment for people with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer. Clinical evidence has shown that the drug can extend survival and delay the progression of the disease compared with chemotherapy. NICE previously decided in 2024 that Enhertu was not a cost-effective use of NHS resources.
From September 2026, doctors in England can prescribe Enhertu to eligible patients. The decision is expected to benefit around 1,000 women each year. The drug has already been available on the NHS in Scotland since 2023, while access is also available in several other European countries.
Patient groups have played an important role in campaigning for wider access. Breast Cancer Now said that many people with metastatic breast cancer had missed out on the treatment while access was being debated.
The change also highlights the difficult decisions involved in deciding which new treatments the NHS can fund. NICE assesses medicines by considering both their clinical benefits and their cost in relation to the health benefits they provide.
For people living with incurable breast cancer, access to new treatments can mean more time with family and friends. Patient experiences and advocacy have also helped bring attention to the impact that decisions about treatment access can have on people’s lives.
Read the article: New hope for breast cancer patients as life-extending drug now on NHS in England – BBC News