Osimertinib Approved for Routine NHS Use, Offering New Hope for Lung Cancer Patients
Key Insights
Osimertinib (Tagrisso) has been approved for routine use on the NHS for EGFR (search) mutation-positive non-small-cell lung cancer (search) (NSCLC (search)) patients.
Clinical trials demonstrated that osimertinib doubles survival time and improves the five-year survival rate compared to placebo.
Approximately 600 eligible patients in England will now have routine access to this targeted treatment, marking a significant advancement in lung cancer (search) care.
AstraZeneca's osimertinib (Tagrisso) has been approved for routine use by the National Health Service (NHS) in England, offering a significant advancement in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (search) (NSCLC (search)) patients harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR (search)) mutations. This decision follows a recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and promises to provide hundreds of patients with improved survival outcomes.
Osimertinib is a targeted therapy designed to inhibit the activity of EGFR (search), a protein that, when mutated, drives abnormal cell growth in NSCLC (search). The drug is administered as a daily pill and is intended to prevent cancer recurrence after surgery. Previously, access to osimertinib was limited to the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).
Clinical Efficacy and Trial Data
Clinical trials have demonstrated the significant efficacy of osimertinib in improving outcomes for patients with EGFR (search) mutation-positive NSCLC (search). Key findings include:
- Disease-Free Survival: The median disease-free survival time for patients treated with osimertinib was 65.8 months, compared to 28.1 months for those receiving a placebo.
- Overall Survival: 88% of patients on osimertinib were alive after five years, compared to 78% of patients on the placebo.
These results underscore the potential of osimertinib to extend life and improve the quality of life for patients with this specific type of lung cancer (search).
Expert Commentary
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, stated, "I am pleased we have been able to recommend that this targeted treatment for a specific gene mutation of lung cancer (search) will be routinely available on the NHS. Previously the only treatment for people with this gene mutation of lung cancer where the tumour has been surgically removed was chemotherapy so I know patients will welcome this additional option."
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England national clinical director for cancer, added, "It’s great news this daily, life-extending pill is now routinely available as another treatment option for all patients in England with this type of lung cancer (search) – secured at a cost-effective price for taxpayers. This drug offers the chance of precious additional years of life for hundreds of people following an operation for lung cancer with a specific gene mutation – and is just the latest example of cutting-edge, targeted cancer treatments to which the NHS has secured routine access too for patients."
Patient Experience
Jules Fielder, a patient who has been taking osimertinib since 2021, shared her positive experience: "When I had my first scan after three months of being on osimertinib, the cancer had shrunk by 90% in my lungs... And I have stayed stable since that day. And because they are tablets, we don’t have to go to hospitals and be strapped to machines."
Impact and Availability
With this approval, approximately 600 eligible patients in England with EGFR (search) mutation-positive NSCLC (search) will have routine access to osimertinib. This marks a significant step forward in lung cancer (search) care within the NHS, providing a new standard of treatment for those with this specific genetic profile.