NHS to offer new drug that halves the risk of cancer returning
A world-leading treatment that halves the risk of lung cancer patients suffering a return of the disease after undergoing treatment, is to be rolled out by NHS England.
In a trial of the drug – the first of its kind – around nine out of ten patients treated, remained alive and disease-free after two years – compared to more than four in ten who hadn’t received the new therapy.
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, accounting for one in five of all cancer deaths.
Around 100 patients in England with a rare form of cancer will initially have access to the drug, called Osimertinib, with many more expected to benefit this year.
Source: NHS England, 7 May 2021