Thousands with advanced prostate cancer to benefit from drug approval
pharmafile | February 8, 2022 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |
Astellas has announced that the SMC has accepted the use of XTANDI™ (enzalutamide) to treat patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHPSC). The treatment is taken orally, which allows patients to manage their treatment at home.
“I applaud the decision by SMC to accept the use of enzalutamide for patients in Scotland,” said Steve Allen, Patient Representative for Tackle Prostate Cancer. “This gives oncologists an extra treatment choice for those with metastatic prostate cancer. For those patients newly diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer, this is a valuable addition to available drug therapy for those patients unsuitable for chemotherapy. We have another positive step forward for those whose lives are affected by prostate cancer.”
In Scotland, more than 3,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year and it remains the second most common cause of death from cancer. The majority of patients with prostate cancer will experience localised disease and a high rate of survival. However, those with metastatic prostate cancer tend to have a 30% overall five-year survival rate. mHSPC is an advanced form of prostate cancer, where the cancer has progressed (metastasised) outside of the prostate gland.
“Across the NHS, it is estimated that thousands of men may have delayed prostate cancer diagnoses, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr Tim Patel, Medical Director, Astellas UK & Ireland. “It is imperative that we all support the NHS as it recovers from the pandemic. We hope that as an oral treatment, enzalutamide will contribute by allowing many more patients to manage their condition from home.”
The SMC’s decision follows a similar recommendation from NICE earlier this year. The decision means that eligible patients in Scotland now have access to enzalutamide.
Ana Ovey
