The NHS has approved a new treatment for an aggressive form of bile duct cancer that could almost triple patients' life expectancy. Zanidatamab, also known as Ziihera, has been recommended for adults with HER2-positive advanced biliary tract cancer who have already received at least one prior treatment.
Clinical trials show that patients treated with zanidatamab survived an average of 18.1 months, compared to 6.2 months for those on existing second-line therapies. The drug, administered via intravenous drip every two weeks, works by targeting the HER2 protein that stimulates tumour growth and activating the immune system to eliminate cancer cells.
The approval follows a campaign by the family of Huw Jones, a 33-year-old from Llanuwchllyn in north Wales who died earlier this year after being diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma. He took zanidatamab as part of a clinical trial from January 2025, the same month his son Idris was born. His father Gareth said the drug gave Huw “precious time” with his family and hope during treatment.
Gareth Honeybone, an NHS surgeon from Sheffield and fellow cholangiocarcinoma patient, also benefitted from the drug. After a new tumour was detected in August 2024, he started zanidatamab in January 2025, and subsequent scans showed the tumour was no longer visible. He expressed pride that his success contributed to the approval.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) initially rejected the treatment but has now approved it in final draft guidance. Nice estimates around 65 patients per year will benefit. Manufacturer Jazz Pharmaceuticals has made the drug available to the NHS at a discounted price through a commercial agreement.
