Enhertu, a life-extending drug for women with a specific type of incurable breast cancer (HER2-low), is now accessible on the NHS in England. This decision impacts approximately 1,000 women per year who suffer from HER2-low advanced breast cancer, a form that cannot be surgically removed or has spread to other parts of the body. The drug can, on average, extend lives by almost seven months, with some patients living up to three years longer. Clinical trials showed Enhertu nearly doubled median progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy, from 5.1 months to 9.9 months, and increased median overall survival by 6.6 months (23.4 months vs. 16.8 months).
The availability of Enhertu follows a reversal of an earlier decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which had previously deemed the treatment not cost-effective in 2024. The change in stance is largely attributed to a new trade deal with the USA, which led to the UK government agreeing to spend 25% more on medicines. This agreement also resulted in NICE increasing its upper threshold for the Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) from £30,000 to £35,000.
While Enhertu is now available in England and has been in Scotland since 2023, and 26 other European countries, Wales is expected to follow suit, but the guidance does not automatically apply to Northern Ireland. This development has been celebrated by campaigners and patients, with Health Secretary Yvette Cooper calling it "life-changing." However, some campaigners noted that "many have died waiting" for the drug since its initial rejection.
