Claire Rowney, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“We’re delighted that NICE has recommended capivasertib with fulvestrant for use on the NHS in England, offering certain people with incurable secondary breast cancer the hope of more precious time to do what matters most to them before the disease progresses.
“This promising new treatment is targeted at cancers with certain gene alterations* that affect up to half of people with hormone receptor positive incurable secondary breast cancer.
"It’s fantastic news that capivasertib will be made available on the NHS for patients in England, but we shouldn’t overlook the fact that its initial provisional rejection meant patients have faced unnecessary delays in accessing it. This happens too often and urgent action must be taken to ensure the quick approval of breast cancer drugs so they can be made available promptly to those who need them.
“NHS England must now put in place prompt genetic testing to ensure those eligible receive capivasertib without further delay. The Scottish Medicines Consortium must also consider this treatment at pace now, so that we see it made available to all who need it across the UK.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
* PIK3CA, AKT1 and PTEN