NICE approves breast cancer drug in NHS funding U-turn

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By Erin Dean and Ella Pickover, PA Media

A breast cancer drug has been approved by NICE following changes to its funding assessment process – reversing a previous decision that it was too expensive.

In 2024 the NHS watchdog rejected Enhertu for HER2-low advanced breast cancer for being “not cost effective”.

But the body said a “commercial solution” has now been agreed for the drug following changes made to its methods as part of the controversial UK/US Pharmaceutical Pricing Agreement.

As part of this, NICE was told by the government to increase the funding threshold for how much the NHS will pay for each quality-adjusted life year (QALY) a medication can give. It is also using a new method for calculating QALYs.

The treatment, also known as trastuzumab deruxtecan, is available to patients in England from Thursday. It has been available in Scotland for more than two years.

It is the first licensed targeted treatment for patients whose HER2-low breast cancer is advanced or who have metastatic cancer that has has progressed following treatment. It is thought around 1,000 women will be eligible to begin treatment.