Thousands of women with advanced womb cancer have been given fresh hope after the NHS approved a new treatment for widespread use. The immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, has been shown to slow cancer growth and significantly improve survival odds.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) estimates that around 2,100 women in England will benefit from the therapy each year. Currently, only 15 per cent of women diagnosed with advanced stage four endometrial cancer survive for five years.
Pembrolizumab, made by Merck Sharp and Dohme, is delivered intravenously alongside chemotherapy drugs carboplatin and paclitaxel. Clinical trials indicate that the combination reduces the risk of death by 26 per cent compared to chemotherapy alone, and also slows cancer progression.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, called the approval a 'major step forward' in treating the cancer. 'For people with advanced endometrial cancer, this innovative combination offers a powerful new treatment option,' she said.
Around 9,700 women are diagnosed with endometrial cancer each year in the UK, making it the most common gynaecological cancer. The treatment will be fast-tracked through the NHS Cancer Drugs Fund, allowing immediate access for patients.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said: 'Getting this treatment to many more NHS patients as quickly as possible will help thousands of women live longer, allowing them to spend more time with loved ones and give them a better quality of life.'
