NHS to Offer Groundbreaking Prostate Cancer Drug That Could Halve Death Risk
Thousands of men in England with advanced prostate cancer will soon have access to a new drug, darolutamide (Nubeqa), that can halve the risk of death and cause fewer side-effects than existing treatments. The move comes after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved the drug for use on the NHS.
At least 6,000 men per year with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) will benefit from this breakthrough treatment. Darolutamide works by blocking hormones that fuel cancer growth and is taken in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which lowers testosterone levels. Clinical trials show that this combination reduces the risk of death by 46% compared to ADT alone, while offering effectiveness comparable to other combination therapies.
“We are determined to ensure that effective treatments such as darolutamide, which can extend both the length and quality of life, are made available quickly to those who need them,” said Helen Knight, Director of Medicines Evaluation at NICE.
For men with metastatic prostate cancer, treatment options have traditionally included ADT alone or combined with other therapies. However, darolutamide offers a “gentler” alternative with fewer side-effects, making it particularly suitable for older men or those unable to tolerate current treatment options.
“Darolutamide is an important new treatment that gives thousands of men with incurable prostate cancer another effective option,” said Amy Rylance, Assistant Director of Health Improvement at Prostate Cancer UK.
“While it is just as effective as existing drugs, it has fewer side-effects. This means more men can benefit from life-extending treatments that are currently underused.”
Prostate Cancer UK highlighted ongoing challenges with access, warning that some men may still face a postcode lotteryin England. According to recent national audit data, only 47% of men with advanced prostate cancer currently receive the latest recommended treatments.
“It’s encouraging that darolutamide has been approved, but the government must ensure that the new national cancer plan guarantees all eligible men can access this and other life-saving therapies,” added Rylance.
Peter Johnson, Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, welcomed the decision:
“This approval provides another vital treatment option for patients living with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer. Clinicians and patients now have more flexibility to choose the treatment approach best suited to individual circumstances and clinical needs.”
Darolutamide is taken orally as two tablets twice daily alongside ADT, helping to reduce cancer progression while minimizing side-effects such as fatigue and cardiovascular risk that can accompany other therapies. Experts believe that widespread adoption of darolutamide could significantly improve survival rates for men with advanced prostate cancer across England.
This approval represents a major step forward in NHS cancer care, offering men a safer, more effective treatment option and reinforcing the importance of early intervention and evidence-based therapies in prostate cancer management.
