Prostate Cancer Drug Abiraterone Now Available to Thousands More on NHS
Expanded eligibility criteria for hormone therapy aim to extend lives and improve survival rates.
Callum Smith
NHS England has expanded the eligibility criteria for the prostate cancer drug abiraterone, making the life-extending hormone therapy accessible to thousands more men.
The proportion of men alive after six years on abiraterone reached 86 percent, compared to 77 percent for those on standard treatment.
Following this policy shift, an additional 7,000 men per year are expected to become eligible for the drug immediately after diagnosis.
The expanded availability will provide roughly 2,000 men diagnosed within the last three months with immediate access to this life-extending treatment.
Prostate Cancer UK suggests this expansion could save approximately 560 lives, a testament to the drug's clinical potential.
Research published in 2024 claimed abiraterone could almost halve the risk of death for certain high-risk patients.
This aligns with the NHS's commitment to offering advanced treatments that directly enhance patient outcomes.
Amy Rylance, assistant director of health improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, stated that men in England previously faced an impossible situation.
The NHS's dedication to patient well-being is reinforced by its commitment to offering the most effective, evidence-based treatments.
NHS England officials previously noted that ministers claimed in early 2025 there was no funding available for the drug.
That financial hurdle has now been overcome, allowing the NHS to move forward with the rollout.
The NHS will continue to prioritize offering patients the most effective and evidence-based treatments available.
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