Breast cancer patients in England and Wales have been dealt a devastating blow as talks to make the life-extending drug Enhertu available on the NHS have failed. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) was unable to come to an agreement with the manufacturers of Enhertu, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, despite efforts from Health Secretary Wes Streeting to intervene.
This marks the third time that negotiations have fallen through, leaving women with incurable breast cancer unable to access the drug. While Enhertu has been available in Scotland and several other European countries, patients in England and Wales are now facing the harsh reality of being denied this potentially life-saving treatment.
Claire Rowney, the chief executive of Breast Cancer Now, expressed deep disappointment at the outcome, stating that thousands of women with HER2-low secondary breast cancer would have greatly benefited from the drug. The failure to reach an agreement means that patients will continue to suffer, missing out on precious time with their families and loved ones.
Nice has expressed its disappointment at the failed negotiations, emphasizing that the only way to ensure patient access to vital medications is for companies to offer fair prices. Dr. Samantha Roberts, Nice’s chief executive, thanked breast cancer campaigners for their efforts and apologized for the unfavorable outcome.
On the other hand, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have criticized Nice’s decision not to recommend Enhertu, urging the regulator to reconsider its assessment criteria. The drug companies argued that the severity modifier used by Nice misclassifies HER2-low metastatic breast cancer, hindering patient access in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
They highlighted that numerous European countries have already approved Enhertu for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer patients, and called for immediate action to address the issue. The companies expressed concern over the lengthy timeline for Nice’s research into societal preferences, stating that patients cannot afford to wait another two years for access to potentially life-saving treatments.
Overall, the failure to reach an agreement on the availability of Enhertu in England and Wales has left breast cancer patients and their families devastated. The ongoing struggle to access vital medications highlights the urgent need for a more streamlined and efficient process to ensure that patients receive the care and treatments they desperately need to fight this deadly disease.