NHS Greenlights Revolutionary Treatment for Aggressive Bile Duct Cancer
Health officials have granted approval for a groundbreaking new treatment for an aggressive form of cancer, offering renewed hope to patients battling cholangiocarcinoma, commonly known as bile duct cancer. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended zanidatamab for NHS use in England and Wales, specifically for patients with HER2-positive advanced biliary tract cancer who have undergone at least one prior treatment.
Transformative Clinical Results
Clinical trial data reveals extraordinary outcomes for this innovative therapy. Patients treated with zanidatamab demonstrated an average survival time of 18.1 months, a dramatic improvement compared to the 6.2 months typically seen with current second-line treatments. This represents an almost threefold increase in life expectancy, a particularly significant advancement given that fewer than one in three people diagnosed with this cancer in England survive beyond one year post-diagnosis.
How Zanidatamab Works
Also known by the brand name Ziihera, this antibody treatment specifically targets the HER2 protein, which stimulates tumour growth in certain cancers. The medication operates through a dual mechanism: activating the patient's immune system to identify and eliminate cancer cells while simultaneously reducing HER2 levels in the body. This combination approach effectively prevents further tumour growth and progression.
Patient Stories Highlight Treatment Impact
The approval follows emotional campaigns from patients and families who have experienced the drug's benefits firsthand. Huw Jones, a 33-year-old from Llanuwchllyn in north Wales, was diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma in 2024 after experiencing pain following triathlon training. He began taking zanidatamab as part of a clinical trial in January 2025, the same month his son Idris was born.
His father Gareth Jones shared: "Although we all wish Huw was still with us, we are grateful for the way in which zanidatamab gave him precious time with his new son and our family. It provided him with much-needed hope during treatment. Knowing this treatment can now be accessed through the NHS is excellent news for people with HER2-positive cholangiocarcinoma."
Another patient, NHS surgeon Gareth Honeybone from Sheffield, began zanidatamab treatment in January 2025 after his cholangiocarcinoma returned following initial surgery and chemotherapy. Subsequent scans have shown his tumour is no longer visible.
Mr Honeybone stated: "I am pleased to hear that zanidatamab has been recommended for approval. I am proud that my success with the drug has contributed to more patients and families being able to experience the benefits I have."
Official Endorsements and Implementation
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, commented: "I am pleased we have been able to recommend this effective new treatment option, the first HER2-targeted drug Nice has recommended for people with biliary tract cancer in England. Patients and clinical experts told us how this treatment would make a huge difference by extending people's lives and improving their quality of life."
Helen Morement, chief executive of the cholangiocarcinoma charity AMMF, added: "We heard from patients and their families about the positive difference zanidatamab provided. We are therefore pleased that more people with advanced HER2-positive disease will be able to access this life-extending treatment through the NHS."
Nice estimates that approximately 65 patients annually will benefit from this treatment, which is administered via an intravenous drip every two weeks. Manufacturer Jazz Pharmaceuticals has made zanidatamab available to the NHS with a discount through a commercial agreement, facilitating broader access to this potentially life-changing therapy.
