Abiraterone access expands in England
Abiraterone is now approved for NHS use in England for men with high-risk localised or locally advanced, and relapsing localised prostate cancer, bringing England in line with Wales & Scotland.
More on what this means for you and your patients.
After more than three years of our campaigning, the NHS in England will now offer the hormone therapy abiraterone to men with high-risk localised or locally advanced, and relapsing localised prostate cancer. This decision brings England into line with Wales and Scotland, which made abiraterone available to these men in 2023.
Thanks to this decision, 3,000 men’s lives will be saved over the next five years.
"This decision is a momentous, lifesaving victory for the thousands of men whose lives will now be saved. Until now, men in England have found themselves in an impossible situation. It’s terrifying to be told you’ve got a cancer that’s likely to spread, to then find out you can’t access the treatment that science has proven to be your best chance at surviving is completely devastating.”
Why does it matter for patients?
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For many years, abiraterone has helped to extend the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer that’s stopped responding to other hormone therapies.
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The STAMPEDE trial in 2022 showed that a two-year course of abiraterone, given earlier, can be transformative for men with high-risk prostate cancer that has not yet spread — halving the risk of cancer recurrence and halving their risk of dying from the disease.
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With abiraterone now approved in England, we estimate that 1,890 men will avoid disease progression this year, and around 720 lives will be saved.
Which patients are eligible?
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Eligible men are those who have been diagnosed with high-risk localised, or locally advanced, prostate cancer. Also, men who have relapsing prostate cancer with high-risk features.
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Evidence from the STAMPEDE trial indicates that abiraterone should be initiated within 12 weeks of starting ADT.
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As a result, patients who began ADT more than 12 weeks ago will not be eligible under the current criteria.
URGENT ACTION: It is vital that clinicians carry out an immediate audit of diagnoses that have occurred in men in their care within the last 12 weeks, including patients who may not yet have been considered for abiraterone at MDT, to support patients who would benefit from this treatment to rapidly start abiraterone before they 'time-out' of eligibility.
FAQs
These FAQs are intended to support clinicians involved in prostate cancer care to understand eligibility, benefits, risks and implementation of abiraterone, and to help ensure eligible patients are identified promptly and do not miss out on treatment.
Patient perspective: Giles Turner, 65
Giles, from Brighton, was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer in March 2023. Since learning he couldn’t access abiraterone on the NHS, he campaigned tirelessly for approval across the UK. He paid for his treatment privately and is now in remission.
"Abiraterone saved my life, and I didn’t even know about it until I heard about the research trial that proved how effective it is for men with high-risk prostate cancer like I had. When I asked my oncologist about it, he told me that abiraterone was available on the NHS in Scotland and Wales but not in England. I was shocked and angered that my postcode meant I was denied free access to a treatment that could halve my risk of dying and give me the best chance of a cure.
Today’s wonderful news is the culmination of all our determined and dogged efforts. I’m beyond happy that men like me now have fair access to the most effective treatment, that so many lives will now be saved, and that so many families will be spared heartbreak."
Expert perspective: Professor Nick James, The Institute of Cancer Research
Professor James, who led the research behind STAMPEDE, said:
"This extension of abiraterone to men with newly diagnosed high-risk prostate cancer that has not spread yet is really good news for men in England. Our data from the STAMPEDE trial shows that two years of abiraterone halves the risk of prostate cancer coming back and reduces risk of death by 40%. In the next 5 years, almost 8,000 men will avoid the devastating news that their cancer has come back.
"Even for men whose cancer does recur, this treatment gives them more healthy years. Very importantly, our research also shows that the reduction in relapses will also save the NHS money in the long run as this will translate into financial savings as well as the big clinical benefit."
Thank you for your commitment
This milestone reflects the collective efforts of clinicians, policymakers, patient advocates, and many others who campaigned to secure abiraterone on the NHS for men across the UK.
We will continue campaigning to push for men in Northern Ireland to have access on the same basis as men in the rest of the UK.
If you have any comments or questions, please email us at: [email protected]
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NHS England commissioning policy: Abiraterone acetate and prednisolone for high-risk, hormone-sensitive, non-metastatic prostate cancer (view policy)
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STAMPEDE trial results: Clinical evidence supporting abiraterone in high-risk non-metastatic prostate cancer (read full study)
- HCP FAQs: Full questions and answers for health professionals (access FAQs)
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Abiraterone treatment overview: Practical guidance, side effects, and administration for patients (view information)
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