Key Points:
A breast cancer drug, Enhertu, has shown to be twice as effective as chemotherapy in shrinking tumors in women with incurable cancer.
The drug held the disease at bay for an average of 13 months, compared to eight months with standard chemo.
Despite promising results, doubts loom over whether England’s healthcare watchdog will approve it due to cost concerns.
Six in 10 women with incurable breast cancer experienced tumor shrinkage with Enhertu, compared to three out of 10 with standard chemotherapy. This breakthrough drug could benefit around 1,000 British women with a specific type of advanced breast cancer.
Uncertain NHS Approval: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) rejected funding for Enhertu earlier this year, despite evidence of its potential to extend patients' lives. Campaigns are urging for a reversal of this decision.
Dr. Simon Vincent from Breast Cancer Now emphasized the importance of providing access to Enhertu for all eligible patients, stating that the drug offers hope for those with secondary breast cancer.
Conversations with regulatory authorities are ongoing, and the hope remains that a solution can be found to make Enhertu accessible to those in need.
The drug, which targets the Her2 protein in breast cancer cells, has shown a 37% reduction in the risk of disease spread or death compared to chemotherapy during the trial.
Despite mounting clinical data, thousands of patients with HER2-low secondary breast cancer are currently unable to access Enhertu through the NHS in England. Discussions are ongoing to address this issue and provide a lifeline to those in need.
