Draft guidancefrom the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approvestrastuzumabemtansine (Kadcyla, Roche) for routine NHS use in England for some patients with HER2-positive primarybreast cancerafter surgery.
The drug wasalready approvedfor HER2-positive secondary breast cancer.
The charity Breast Cancer Now called the decision "wonderful news".
Positive Trial Results
NICE said evidence from clinical trials shows that in people who still have some cancer cells remaining after chemotherapy to shrink their tumour and HER2-targeted treatment, trastuzumab emtansine increases the time they remain free of disease compared with trastuzumab alone.
TheKATHERINE clinical trialfound that 88.3% of patients treated with adjuvantKadcylaafter their surgery were free of invasive disease after 3 years, compared to 77% of patients treated with trastuzumab.
Trial data on extending life is not yet available.
Final guidance is due next month. Wales usually follows NICE decisions while the NHS in Scotland is due to assess the drug later this year.
Breast Cancer Now Chief Executive Baroness Delyth Morgan said in a statement: “It is wonderful news that hundreds of patients with primary breast cancer will now have an additional option to help further reduce the risk of the disease coming back."
She added: "With some cancer treatments currently being delayed or changed due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is important that the option ofKadcyla, and its risks and benefits at this time, is discussed with any eligible patients. The decision to start adjuvantKadcylamust be made collaboratively with patients, doctors and multidisciplinary teams to ensure the right choice for each person, and it’s vital everyone has the information and support they need."
