Breast cancer wonder drug approved by NHS

WOMEN with the most aggressive forms of breast cancer will be offered a new treatment on the NHS that can shrink tumours before surgery and reduce the risk of recurrence.

- Hanna Geissler

Immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab cuts the chances of the triple-negative type of the disease progressing by almost two-fifths when used with chemotherapy.

Clinical trials revealed it also reduced the size of tumours before any operations so less invasive procedures were needed.

The treatment – seen as a wonder drug – also slashed the risk of the cancer spreading and becoming incurable after surgery.

Around 1,600 patients in England who have few other treatment options will be eligible each year. The drug was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) after the NHS reached agreement with global manufacturer MSD.

Significant

NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “This is a hugely significant moment for women.