The NHS has approved a new ovarian cancer treatment for use in England – the first such approval in 20 years – after patients reported the drug gives them more time and a better quality of life.
The drug, which is described as kinder on the body than existing treatments, was given the green light following a review by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). It will be available on the NHS in England for women with a hard-to-treat form of the disease.
“The NHS has approved a new ovarian cancer drug – the first in 20 years – that patients say gives them more time and better quality of life due to fewer side-effects.”
Women taking the drug told the BBC it has given them their lives back. One patient said the treatment had allowed her to spend precious time with family without the severe side-effects of chemotherapy. Another described feeling ‘normal’ again, able to work and socialise.
The approval marks the first new ovarian cancer treatment for the NHS in two decades. Ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, making it difficult to treat, and the new drug is specifically aimed at patients whose cancer has returned after previous treatments or is resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy.
Across the UK, the decision will affect patients in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, though each nation’s health body will need to formally endorse the Nice recommendation. In practice, NHS Scotland and NHS Wales usually follow Nice’s lead, and Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care board is expected to review the decision.
Patient groups have welcomed the announcement, saying it offers hope for women with limited options. The drug works by targeting a protein found on the surface of cancer cells, delivering a toxin directly to the tumour while sparing healthy tissue. This targeted approach is believed to be responsible for the milder side-effect profile.
The Nice guidance means eligible patients in England can now receive the drug on the NHS. The exact number of women who will benefit has not been disclosed, but ovarian cancer affects around 7,500 women in the UK each year.
What This Means For You - Patients with treatment-resistant ovarian cancer will have access to a new, less toxic option on the NHS. - Women currently undergoing chemotherapy who experience severe side-effects may discuss the new drug with their oncologist. - The decision could lead to more routine use of targeted therapies for other cancers if similar benefits are shown. - No changes to eligibility for other treatments – this is an additional choice for those who meet clinical criteria. - Patients in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should monitor announcements from their respective health bodies for local implementation.