Prostate Cancer Breakthrough: New Drug in England Could Halve Death Risk for Thousands
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Thousands of men battling advanced prostate cancer in England will soon benefit from darolutamide a revolutionary treatment proven to cut death risk by nearly half while offering fewer side effects.
Thousands of men in England living with advanced prostate cancer are set to receive a life-saving new treatment after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) approved darolutamide, a breakthrough drug that can halve the risk of death from the disease.
The drug, also known by its brand name Nubeqa and developed by Bayer, will be made available on the NHS to at least 6,000 men each year who have metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer a stage in which the disease spreads beyond the prostate to other parts of the body.
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Darolutamide is taken as two tablets twice a day and works by blocking hormones that fuel cancer growth. It is prescribed alongside androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a hormone-lowering treatment that reduces testosterone levels the main driver of prostate cancer cells.
Clinical trials have revealed remarkable results. When combined with ADT, darolutamide slashes the risk of death by 46 percent compared to using ADT alone. Data also shows it is just as effective as other combination treatments already in use but comes with significantly fewer side effects, making it a gentler option for patients.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, hailed the approval as a vital step forward in cancer care. “I’m pleased we can recommend this new combination treatment, which provides another much-needed option for people with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer,” she said. “We are determined to ensure that effective treatments such as darolutamide, which can help extend the length and quality of people’s lives, are made available fast to those who need them.”
Prostate Cancer UK, a leading charity, described the new approval as a “game changer” for men facing the realities of incurable prostate cancer. Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at the organization, said the treatment’s gentler side-effect profile could make a meaningful difference.
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“Darolutamide is an important new treatment that gives thousands of men with incurable prostate cancer another effective option that could halve their risk of death,” she said. “While it’s just as effective as existing drugs, it has fewer side effects. Our hope is that this will make it easier for more men to benefit from these treatments – because right now, too many men are missing out on the therapies that can extend their lives.”
However, Rylance cautioned that some patients might still struggle to access the drug due to regional disparities in care provision across England. She cited data from a national prostate cancer audit showing that less than half of men with advanced prostate cancer currently receive the most up-to-date recommended treatments.
“This is why the government must ensure the new national cancer plan includes concrete steps to make sure the right treatments reach the men who need them,” she added.
Peter Johnson, NHS England’s clinical director for cancer, also praised the move. “This decision provides another welcome treatment option for patients living with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer,” he said. “With several proven therapies already available on the NHS, this approval gives clinicians and their patients more flexibility to choose the approach best suited to individual needs.”
Prostate cancer remains the most common cancer among men in the UK, with around 52,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Although survival rates have improved over the past decade, thousands still die annually from the disease, especially those diagnosed at later stages.
The introduction of darolutamide marks a major milestone in the fight against prostate cancer offering new hope, longer lives, and a better quality of life for thousands of men and their families.
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