UK approves ‘game-changing’ drug for advanced breast cancer treatment

The United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved a “game-changing” twice-daily pill that is said to slow the spread of an incurable type of breast cancer.

The drug, Truqap, developed by AstraZeneca, targets the AKT protein, a molecule known to fuel the multiplication of cancer cells.

By inhibiting AKT’s action, the drug effectively slows or halts the progression of the disease.

Clinical trials found that when combined with the hormone therapy, fulvestrant, Truqap extended the period before cancer advancement by an average of 4.2 months compared to patients receiving fulvestrant and a placebo.

The drug is suitable for patients’ tumours with mutations or alterations in the PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN genes. These are found in about half of patients with this form of breast cancer.

As many as 3,000 women every year could benefit from the drug.

Claire Rowney, the chief executive of charity Breast Cancer Now, welcomed the green light from NICE, but said its initial rejection of the pill had led to treatment delays.

“This happens too often and urgent action must be taken to ensure the quick approval of breast cancer drugs so they can be made available promptly to those who need them,” she said.

“NHS England must now put in place prompt genetic testing to ensure those eligible receive capivasertib without further delay. The Scottish Medicines Consortium must also consider this treatment at pace now, so that we see it made available to all who need it across the UK.”

The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London welcomed the approval for a “game-changing” drug after decades of research by its scientists.

Nicholas Turner, from the ICR and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, who led a key trial into the drug, said the Nice approval meant “thousands of NHS patients with advanced breast cancer with these specific biomarkers can now receive this innovative targeted treatment to keep their cancer from progressing for longer”.

Paul Workman, the former chief executive of the ICR and researcher in the AKT drug discovery project, said: “I am delighted to celebrate this landmark moment and see capivasertib become available on the NHS”.

“It’s immensely gratifying that years of collaboration have contributed to this new cancer drug, which has the potential to improve the lives of so many NHS patients living with advanced breast cancer,” Workman added.