The Prostate Cancer Charity comments on the launch of new drug,
abiraterone, which has now been licensed for use in the UK, and can
be prescribed by doctors to help extend the lives of men with
advanced prostate cancer, which has stopped responding to existing
treatments, by an average of four months.
Owen Sharp, The Prostate Cancer Charity's Chief Executive,
explains: "Abiraterone is one of the most important developments
for some time in the treatment of men with an advanced form of the
disease who are no longer responding to existing treatments. It is
particularly encouraging to see that this drug can now be
prescribed by doctors who think their patients will benefit from
it. We hope that all local health providers will make funds
available so that this drug can start to reach those men as soon as
possible.
"In the meantime, it is vital that abiraterone is now appraised
swiftly by NICE and the SMC, to ensure that guidance on its use in
the NHS is available across the UK. Research has shown that
abiraterone can increase life by an average of four months, which
represents invaluable time with loved ones. We need to see the men
who simply cannot afford to wait gain access to this exciting drug
as soon as possible."