New advanced bladder cancer treatment can ‘double chances of survival’
First new NHS bladder cancer treatment for decades approved
- A new combination treatment for advanced bladder cancer has been approved for NHS use in England.
- The treatment, combining enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab, marks the first significant advance in care for this condition since the 1980s.
- Clinical trials showed the new therapy doubles patients' average survival time to 33.8 months, compared to 15.9 months with chemotherapy.
- Approximately 1,250 people in England each year are estimated to benefit from this treatment, which also improves progression-free survival and complete response rates.
- Experts and patient advocates have welcomed the approval, highlighting its potential to fundamentally reshape care and significantly improve the lives of those affected.