A drug that could improve the quality of life for hundreds of women with uterine cancer will be rolled out on the NHS across England from Tuesday.
Dostarlimab, also known as Jemperli, is an immunotherapy that works by recruiting specific proteins on the surface of cancer cells to help the immune system attack them.
It will be rolled out by NHS England following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in 2022. Up to 200 patients will be eligible each year.
There is some evidence that the drug extends life expectancy when used in addition to chemotherapy. It is a monoclonal antibody that is administered via an infusion for half an hour under the supervision of a doctor during each treatment.
According to Cancer Research, there are 9,700 new cases and 2,400 deaths from womb-related cancer every year in the UK. The two most common forms are endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma.
In clinical trials, 64% of patients who received Jemperli and chemotherapy did not see their cancer worsen after one year of treatment. This figure was more than twice as high as with chemotherapy alone, namely only 24%.
Dostarlimab was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in October as a medicine that can be used with chemotherapy to slow the progression of uterine cancer and extend a patient’s life expectancy.
It is the first drug to be approved by the MHRA as a first-line treatment for primary advanced or relapsed endometrial cancer.
The most common side effects are underactive thyroid glands, rash, dry skin, high temperature or fever and increased liver enzyme levels in the blood.
Prof. Peter Clark, head of NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), said: “The rollout of this drug as a first-line treatment on the NHS is great news for patients living with this type of uterine cancer – this new immunotherapy could offer hundreds of people women the hope of precious extra time to live well before their cancer progresses.”
Helen Knight, director of drug evaluation in Nice, said: “Advanced or recurrent uterine cancer has a devastating effect on quality of life and there are limited treatment options available.
“We are focused on delivering what matters most and getting care quickly to those who need it, so I am pleased that this treatment option will soon be made available through the CDF, giving people with this type of cancer more costly can enjoy time with their families. and loved ones.”