The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended apalutamide, sold under the brand name Erleada, and androgen deprivation therapy for treating prostate cancer in adults.
The move will make around 8,000 people with hormone-sensitive or hormone-relapsed prostate cancer eligible for treatment with apalutamide.
The recommendation follows an improved discount to the price of apalutamide offered by its manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, wholly-owned by Johnson & Johnson.
Apalutamide is a kind of drug called an androgen receptor inhibitor which works by blocking the effect of testosterone on prostate cancer cells.
The clinical trial results suggest apalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy increases longevity of the patient by slowing down the growth of cancer cells.
Meindert Boysen, NICE deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, said: “We are very pleased that Janssen has been able to work with us to address the uncertainties in the evidence identified by the committee in the previous draft guidance.
“This means that we are able to produce final draft guidance recommending apalutamide as an effective and valuable additional treatment option for people with these types of prostate cancer.”
The guidance focused on treating adults who no longer respond to hormone therapy and are at high risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of their body.
