A prostate cancer drug is to be available for thousands of men with the disease after a surprise u-turn by regulators yesterday.
The decision means the drug abiraterone will be available for treating metastatic hormone-relapsed prostate cancer when androgen deprivation therapy has failed.
Under the arrangements between the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and manufacturer Janssen, the drug will be supplied free after patients have survived for ten months.
NICE had caused concern among campaigners by rejecting the drug, which costs some £2,950 for 120 tablets.
Its u-turn means that some 5,900 men could benefit each year.
NICE said it changed its mind after receiving evidence from a large trial in the USA showing that 14% of patients were still taking the drug 4.4 years after starting treatment.
Cancer Research UK, which funded the discovery of the drug, said it was "delighted" with the news.
Clinical oncologist Professor Heather Payne, of University College Hospital, London, said: "Abiraterone has been shown not only to significantly extend life expectancy but is well tolerated and enables these patients to live a better quality of life.
"This is very welcome news for men with prostate cancer, their families and the doctors and nurses who care for them.”
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