The NHS in England is expanding access to the prostate cancer drug abiraterone, offering it to thousands more men diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that has not yet spread. This marks a significant change from previous policy, where the drug was only provided once the disease had metastasised. The shift aims to reduce deaths, improve quality of life and align England’s practice with Scotland and Wales, where wider access existed previously.
Abiraterone works by blocking the production of testosterone, which fuels many prostate cancers. Clinical trials, including the major STAMPEDE study, have shown that adding abiraterone to standard treatment can halve the risk of the cancer returning and cut the risk of death by around 40 % for eligible patients. This evidence underpins the NHS decision to broaden eligibility.
Under the new policy, about 7,000–8,000 men each year in England will become eligible for the drug soon after diagnosis, offering many a much stronger chance of survival and fewer relapses. Campaigners and charities like Prostate Cancer UK have long argued that earlier access could save about 3,000 lives over the next five years.
For the UK, this development has several benefits. It helps to reduce long-standing treatment inequalities between different parts of the country, demonstrating a more equitable NHS. Earlier use of abiraterone may also reduce long-term treatment costs by lowering the need for more intensive care if cancer spreads. And the change reflects a broader commitment to using strong clinical evidence to inform NHS funding decisions.
Overall, the expanded rollout of abiraterone represents a major advance in how prostate cancer is treated in England and a tangible example of policy centred on patient benefit.
