Breast cancer drug “life-saving” that can reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease by a third in some women is available in the NHS
- A drug hailed as a “breakthrough” for breast cancer victims is now on the NHS
- Tests show that abemaciclib can reduce the risk of some form of the disease by a third
- Cancer is diagnosed at 50,000 in England each year, making it the most common
By Xantha Leatham, science correspondent for the Daily Mail
Posted: 00:05, 17 June 2022 | Updated: 00:09, June 17, 2022
A drug hailed as a “significant breakthrough” for thousands of breast cancer victims was made available to the NHS yesterday.
Trials have shown that abemaciclib can reduce by a third the risk of a form of the disease recurring in some women.
The drug, which is used with hormone therapy, is effective in people who have early breast cancer HR +, HER2- who have a high risk of recurrence and whose tumor has been removed by surgery.
A worldwide trial, conducted by Royal Marsden Hospital in London, found that abemaciclib administered with hormone therapy reduced the risk of returning cancer by 32% compared to hormone therapy alone. It could help up to 4,000 women a year.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and, although the prognosis for this form of the disease is generally positive, it could spread and become incurable in between 20 and 30% of patients. Every year, 50,000 women in England are diagnosed with breast cancer. (Archive image)
Abemaciclib blocks the proteins responsible for stimulating cancer cells to divide and grow. It usually costs £ 2,950 for 56 tablets, but its US manufacturer Eli Lilly has agreed to offer the NHS an undisclosed discount. (Archive image)
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and, although the prognosis for this form of the disease is generally positive, it could spread and become incurable in between 20 and 30% of patients. Every year, 50,000 women in England are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Abemaciclib blocks the proteins responsible for stimulating cancer cells to divide and grow. It usually costs £ 2,950 for 56 tablets, but its US manufacturer Eli Lilly has agreed to offer the NHS an undisclosed discount.
Baroness Morgan de Drefelin, executive director of Breast Cancer Now, said: “The fear that breast cancer will return or spread to other parts of your body and become incurable can cause considerable anxiety for so many women and loved ones.It is now important for doctors to talk about this new treatment and the risks and benefits with eligible patients.