New Treatment Combination for Metastatic Prostate Cancer Available on the NHS

Strategic Insights -

People living with metastatic prostate cancer in England will gain access to a new treatment combination from Friday, 24 October, following a recommendation by NICE. The treatment, darolutamide, made by Bayer, has been recommended in final draft guidance to treat adults with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Approximately 6,000 people in England will be eligible for this new combination treatment, which blocks the hormones fuelling cancer growth by starving prostate cancer cells of the testosterone they need to multiply and spread.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new treatment combination, darolutamide and ADT, has been recommended by NICE for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer in England, following a cost comparison approach.
  • The treatment combination is estimated to be as effective as other combination treatments already recommended by NICE and available on the NHS.
  • Clinical trials showed that adding darolutamide to standard ADT delivers better results than ADT alone.
  • Approximately 6,000 people in England will be eligible for this new combination treatment, available from Friday, 24 October, in the NHS.
  • NICE's final draft guidance was available five weeks faster than would have been the case under its standard process.
  • The company has a confidential commercial arrangement in place which makes darolutamide available to the NHS with a discount.
  • Around 55,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer in England every year.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 6,000 people in England will be eligible for the new combination treatment.
  • Around 55,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer in England every year.
  • The new treatment combination is available on the NHS from Friday, 24 October.
  • NICE's final draft guidance was available five weeks faster than would have been the case under its standard process.
  • The company has a confidentiality agreement in place which makes darolutamide available to the NHS with a discount.

Sources:

  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (UK)
  • Bayer (manufacturers of darolutamide)
  • News24 October 2025