Life-extending drug for breast cancer patients now on NHS in England

A life-extending drug will be made available on the NHS to patients in England with a specific type of incurable breast cancer, after an initial decision to reject the treatment was reversed.

Enhertu can give patients close to seven extra months to live on average, compared with those who had chemotherapy.

It is the first licensed targeted treatment for patients with HER2-low breast cancer that cannot be removed surgically or has spread to other parts of the body - also known as metastatic breast cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the drug would be available from Thursday for around 1,000 women with HER2-low advanced breast cancer.

In 2024, NICE rejected the drug for widespread use for the NHS in England, saying the treatment was "not cost effective".

However, it reversed that decision after a "commercial solution" had "been agreed", following changes to its methods as part of a pricing agreement between the UK and US.

Enhertu - also know as trastuzumab deruxtecan and made by Daiichi Sankyo and Astra Zeneca - has been available in Scotland for more than two years.

Clinical trials found women with breast cancer who took the drug survived for around two years, compared with 17.5 months for those who had chemotherapy.

Charity Breast Cancer Now hailed the announcement as "a momentous day".

Claire Rowney, the charity's chief executive, said the drug will give thousands of people "the opportunity to gain precious extra time with loved ones; more ordinary days that become extraordinary because they were there".

Read more from Sky News:
Body found in search for missing boy
Macklemore to donate $1m from tour

Ms Rowney said that the initial rejection of the drug meant that "thousands of people have missed out on access to Enhertu and tragically many have died".

She called the reversal a "milestone victory" and called for the treatment to be made available on the NHS in Wales and Northern Ireland.

A 'new sense of hope'

Paula Van Santen, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in July 2022, said the announcement has given her a "new sense of hope".

Ms Van Santen, a 51-year-old mother-of-three from Oxfordshire, said: "Today is a day I never thought I'd see.

"After years of waiting and hoping, there aren't enough words to express how thrilled I am to see Enhertu finally approved for use on the NHS.

"It gives me the chance of seeing my daughter graduate from university, become a grandparent for the first time and simply be a mum to my children for longer as they continue to grow."

Kathryn Hulland, 48, from Devon, said the decision would give her more time with her young daughter.

Ms Hulland, who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer four years ago, said: "I may still be here to support my nine-year-old daughter into high school.

"When I was first diagnosed, I was told I'd be lucky to see 12 months.

"Three years later I know how important every extra month is. It's another chance at more time with my daughter, another chance to make memories together, another month to be her mum and see her grow.

"And that's the hope this life-extending treatment now brings, it means everything."

(c) Sky News 2026: Life-extending drug for breast cancer patients now on NHS in England