Prostate cancer drug abiraterone to be offered to thousands on NHS within weeks

NHS England will widen access to the prostate cancer drug abiraterone so about 2,000 recently diagnosed men could be eligible immediately and roughly 7,000 more a year may become eligible, according to reported clinical assessments and trial results.

England will widen NHS access to the drug abiraterone for patients whose prostate cancer has not spread. The expansion means around 2,000 men diagnosed in the past three months could receive the treatment quickly if clinical assessments indicate likely benefit. A further roughly 7,000 men a year are expected to become eligible after diagnosis. Abiraterone is now available as a lower-cost generic and has previously been used on the NHS for more advanced prostate cancer. Key facts: - NHS England has widened eligibility so some non-metastatic prostate cancer patients can receive abiraterone. - About 2,000 men diagnosed in the last three months are expected to benefit immediately if clinical assessments show likely gain. - Around 7,000 additional men a year are expected to become eligible following diagnosis. - Reported clinical trial results showed six-year survival of 86% for men taking abiraterone versus 77% for those on standard treatment, and progression-free time increased from about 15 months to 33 months. - For certain high-risk patients, a study reported a reduction in five-year death rates from 17% to 9% with abiraterone, and NHS England says AI tools are being trialled to help clinicians identify who may benefit. - NHS England said wider access was enabled after securing better value for medicines and reinvesting savings from generics and biosimilars. Summary: The expanded access is expected to make abiraterone available on the NHS within weeks and extend eligibility to thousands more men each year, with reported trial data indicating improved longer-term survival and longer cancer control for earlier-stage patients. NHS England reports it secured value savings to support the rollout and will work with clinical teams and campaigners during implementation.