The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance recommending Abiraterone for treating hormone-relapsed metastatic prostate cancer before chemotherapy is indicated. In line with NICE’s recommendations, NHS England funds Abiraterone for these indications of prostate cancer so it is routinely available for the treatment of patients who meet this criteria. I understand that NICE has not recommended more widespread use of Abiraterone under this guidance.
However, NHS England is considering a clinical policy proposal for abiraterone as a treatment option for patients newly diagnosed with high risk, non-metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, or in whom prostate cancer has relapsed after at least 12 months without treatment. If supported by a clinical panel, this policy proposal will progress to stakeholder testing by January 2024.
As you may know, healthcare is devolved to the Welsh and Scottish Governments. This means that there are separate health bodies in the devolved nations which assess medicines for deployment in their respective nations.
If you would like more information about this medicine, you can visit the Prostate Cancer UK website here: https://prostatecanceruk.org/prostate-information/treatments/abiraterone