Responding, Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“Today’s news that Trodelvy has finally been recommended by NICE for use on the NHS in England, marks a momentous and hugely anticipated milestone for certain women living with incurable triple negative secondary breast cancer1.
"I’m so proud that Breast Cancer Now and our patient advocates and passionate campaigners were pivotal in achieving this outcome.
“Following a devastating provisional rejection in April, this landmark decision will offer a new, effective treatment for these women.
"And crucially, it will give them the hope of invaluable extra months to live2 and do what matters most to them and their loved ones.
“Our utmost gratitude goes out to the hundreds of thousands of campaigners, and to the patient advocates, whose relentless support has helped guarantee Trodelvy reaches those who desperately need it, now and in the future.
"We are especially grateful to the women who spent their precious final months campaigning.
"To every single person who signed our petition, wrote to their MP, attended meetings, shared their story, contributed to our open letter and responded to the consultation, your actions allowed us to sustain the pressure and send a loud and clear message to Gilead and NICE.
“We must, however, recognise the unacceptably difficult journey to get to this point for those affected - 10 agonising months since Trodelvy was licensed by the MHRA. Patients living with incurable secondary breast cancer deserve better.
"Crucial lessons must be learnt to avoid scenarios like this happening again.
"And we’ll continue to demand more for people affected by breast cancer, working with the Government, NHS England, NICE and pharmaceutical companies to ensure new, clinically effective treatments reach patients as quickly as possible, at a fair price for the NHS.
“We now need urgent confirmation as to when Trodelvy will be routinely available to patients on the NHS in Wales and Northern Ireland3.
"Anyone affected can speak to our expert nurses by calling our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor
- Unresectable locally advanced or secondary breast cancer after two prior treatments, with at least one of them being for advanced breast cancer.
- Compared to chemotherapy.
- Wales and Northern Ireland normally follow NICE decisions.