NICE Recommends Darolutamide for Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment

People living with metastatic prostate cancer in England will gain access to a new treatment combination from today, following a recommendation by NICE. Darolutamide, also known as Nubeqa, is a medication that blocks the hormones fuelling cancer growth by starving prostate cancer cells of the testosterone they need to multiply and spread. It is estimated that up to 6,000 people in England will be eligible for this new combination treatment, which is available from today in the NHS. This decision provides another welcome treatment option for patients living with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer.

Key Takeaways:

• NICE recommends darolutamide (Nubeqa) for advanced prostate cancer treatment in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).
• Darolutamide blocks cancer growth by starving prostate cancer cells of testosterone, with clinical trials showing it is as effective as other combination treatments.
• Treatment is available from today in the NHS, with a confidential commercial arrangement in place.
• Darolutamide is estimated to be eligible for up to 6,000 people in England with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
• Clinical trials have shown that adding darolutamide to standard ADT delivers better results than ADT alone for people living with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
• The NHS has a confidential commercial arrangement in place with the company to make darolutamide available with a discount.
• NICE used a cost comparison approach, demonstrating that the costs for darolutamide plus ADT are similar to or lower than those for apalutamide plus ADT.
• This final draft guidance was available five weeks faster than would have been the case under NICE's standard process.

Statistics:

• 55,000 people are diagnosed with prostate cancer in England each year.
• 6,000 people in England are eligible for this new combination treatment.
• The new combination treatment is available from today in the NHS.
• Darolutamide was recommended in final draft guidance.
• The company has a confidential commercial arrangement in place to make darolutamide available to the NHS with a discount.
• NICE's final draft guidance was available five weeks faster than under its standard process.

Sources:

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2023). Darolutamide recommended for use in combination with androgen deprivation therapy for treating advanced prostate cancer.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2023). Approaches to the evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of darolutamide for the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.