A groundbreaking immunotherapy medication has received NHS approval, bringing new possibilities for women facing late-stage womb cancer.
The drug pembrolizumab will be available to roughly 2,100 patients yearly throughout England.
The medication, when administered with chemotherapy, demonstrates a 26 per cent reduction in mortality risk.
Endorsement of the treatment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence marks what officials describe as significant progress in cancer care.
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The drug will be available to roughly 2,100 patients yearly
Manufactured by Merck Sharp and Dohme under the brand name Keytruda, the therapy will be used in the treatment of a disease with a poor prognosis for advanced cases.
The authorisation comes amid a stark survival outlook for women with stage four endometrial cancer, with merely 15 per cent reaching the five-year milestone.
This form of cancer begins in the uterine lining and affects approximately 9,700 women annually in the UK. It has long been one of the most prevalent gynaecological malignancies across the country.
But the introduction of pembrolizumab offers a substantial improvement in these grim statistics.
Clinical evidence demonstrates the treatment’s ability to decelerate cancer progression whilst enhancing survival prospects for affected women.
The immunotherapy is delivered intravenously in combination with the chemotherapy agents carboplatin and paclitaxel. Patients may receive the treatment for a maximum period of two years.
Research data reveal that this triple-drug approach outperforms chemotherapy administered independently.
The clinical studies examined the effectiveness of combining pembrolizumab with standard chemotherapy protocols.
Beyond extending survival, the treatment demonstrates the capacity to halt disease progression.
The medication works by enhancing the body’s immune response against cancer cells.
Nice’s evaluation process confirmed both the clinical effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the therapy.
The organisation’s recommendation ensures rapid integration into standard NHS cancer services across England.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, stated: “For people with advanced endometrial cancer, this innovative combination offers a powerful new treatment option.
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Clinical evidence demonstrates the treatment’s ability to decelerate cancer progression
“It marks a major step forward, and we’re pleased to recommend it as part of our commitment to getting the best care to people, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.”
Helen Hyndman, lead nurse at Eve Appeal’s Ask Eve service, commented: “Primary advanced or recurrent womb (endometrial) cancer has a huge impact on the quality of life for those diagnosed. It is great news that this new treatment has been approved. It will offer hope, a better quality of life and improve outcomes for those affected.”
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, added: “Getting this treatment to many more NHS patients as quickly as possible will help thousands of women live longer, allowing them to spend more time with loved ones and give them a better quality of life.
“Thanks to the NHS’s Cancer Drugs Fund, it is now being fast-tracked into routine use, with treatment available to more patients from today.”
