Prostate cancer victims denied 'game-changing' drug

Men with advanced prostate cancer will be refused a “game-changing” drug on the NHS, after a ruling by rationing watchdogs.

Cancer experts said the decision would affect thousands of men who hoped to be able to access the treatment, which has far fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

New guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence rules that the drug abiraterone, which can extend survival by up to 15 months, cannot be offered before standard therapy.

Nice said the new drug is not as cost-effective as a current first-line treatments – chemotherapy plus hormone drugs.

The watchdog also said there was no evidence to prove it offers longer survival than standard treatment, as the two options have not been directly compared.

But charities said the decision meant many men with advanced disease would lose out, because they could not tolerate chemotherapy, which can have toxic side effects.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, with affects 47,000 each year – killing 11,000.

Nice said the decision will affect around 7,000 patients a year.

But campaigners warn the figure could be as high as 16,000 annually.

Professor Paul Workman

Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “Abiraterone has been a game changer for treatment of prostate cancer – extending the lives of men with the disease, and crucially sparing them the side-effects of conventional chemotherapy.

“I am disappointed that men with advanced prostate cancer will not be able to access abiraterone as a first-line treatment.”

The drug works by stopping the body producing the male sex-hormone testosterone, which fuels prostate tumours. A month’s treatment costs around £3,000.

Tim Windle, Policy Manager at Prostate Cancer UK said: “For some men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, treatment with abiraterone alongside hormone therapy has been shown to have impressive results.

“It is therefore disappointing that this draft decision is not to approve its use for any of this group.

“Currently the best treatment available at this stage is chemotherapy alongside hormone therapy, which some men – through no fault of their own – are unable to tolerate.

“It’s imperative that these men are able to access abiraterone as an alternative.”

NICE said it will review the decision later this summer.

A spokesman said: “We understand that some men with prostate cancer will be disappointed by today’s news.

“However, we can only recommend drugs that are clinically effective and show value for money compared to current treatment options. In this case, abiraterone has fallen short.

“This is a draft decision. We hope to receive further information from consultees, including the company, during the consultation period.”