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NHS England Expands Access to Abiraterone for Prostate Cancer

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • NHS England will offer abiraterone to men with non-metastatic prostate cancer
  • About 2,000 men diagnosed in the last three months will receive the drug
  • Expanded access aligns England with Scotland and Wales

NHS England has announced that abiraterone will soon be provided to men whose prostate cancer has not spread, expanding access to this treatment across the country.

This policy change is intended to make the drug available to more patients, following clinical advice and the introduction of lower-cost generic versions.

According to NHS England, around 2,000 men diagnosed with non-metastatic prostate cancer in the past three months will be eligible to receive abiraterone if it is deemed clinically suitable for them. An estimated 7,000 additional men per year are expected to become eligible for the treatment following diagnosis.

Abiraterone is now available as a generic medicine, which has enabled NHS England to widen access. The decision to expand availability follows recommendations from clinical experts and was supported by cost savings from prescribing generic or biosimilar drugs.

What the numbers show

  • Clinical trial data show six-year survival is 86% for men taking abiraterone, compared to 77% with standard treatment
  • Clinical trials indicate abiraterone halves the risk of cancer recurrence and reduces risk of death by about 40% in high-risk cases
  • Prostate Cancer UK estimates 3,000 lives will be saved over five years due to expanded access

Prostate Cancer UK has reported that the expanded access to abiraterone will result in 720 lives saved this year, while 1,890 men are expected to avoid disease progression as a result of the new policy.

England’s move to offer abiraterone to men with high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer brings its policy in line with Scotland and Wales, where the drug has been available for this group since 2023.

Clinical trial findings referenced by NHS England indicate that abiraterone provides improved outcomes for men with high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer, including a lower risk of recurrence and reduced mortality.

Industry reaction

Prostate Cancer UK stated that the expanded access to abiraterone is expected to save thousands of lives over the next five years and prevent disease progression in many patients.

NHS England confirmed that the decision was based on clinical guidance and made possible by the availability of lower-cost generic medicines.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

Sources and further reading

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