Radioactive prostate cancer drug given NHS go-ahead

A radioactive prostate cancer drug has been recommended for routine NHS use following a decision by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice).

Radium-223 dichloride, marketed as Xofigo, could be made available for treating prostate cancer patients as early as December.

The draft guidance on the drug – which homes in on tumours that have spread to the bones and attacks them with alpha radiation – is seen by charities an “important victory” for some patients.
It is hoped that Radium-223 can be used to help those who are too unwell to undertake chemotherapy.

The drug emits alpha radiation. In high doses, alpha particles destroy the body’s tissues and organs, but, when used in a carefully targeted and controlled way, they can also wipe out cancer.

Previously, the drug had not been recommended for widespread use, but only for those who had already received chemotherapy treatment. Following an assessment by Nice, the health watchdog, it was decided that making the drug available for routine use was a cost-effective use of NHS resources. It is estimated that the average cost of a course of treatment is £24,240, Nice said in its guidance.

Professor Carole Longson, director of the centre for health technology evaluation at Nice, said: “I am pleased we have been able to broaden our recommendations for radium-223. Patients with prostate cancer will surely benefit from this drug being available for routine NHS use.

“I hope we’ll see more drugs like this move into routine NHS use after companies have been able to better demonstrate cost-effectiveness.”

Heather Blake, director of support and influencing at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Today’s announcement is an important victory for men whose prostate cancer has spread to the bone and are unable to have chemotherapy.”

Professor Paul Workman, chief executive of the Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: “Today’s announcement brings us in line with Scotland, where radium-223 is already an option for men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to the bone, and expands the still limited number of treatment options.”