Responding to the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s (SMC) decision to approve trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) for use on the NHS in Scotland, Melanie Sturtevant, associate director of policy, evidence and influencing at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“It’s brilliant news that trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) will be made available on the NHS in Scotland for certain patients with HER2 positive incurable secondary breast cancer.[1]
“This exciting new treatment can give patients more time before their disease progresses, compared to the current standard treatment, giving women more precious time to do the things that matter to them.[2]
“Trastuzumab deruxtecan brings people living with this type of incurable secondary breast cancer the hope of more time to live, and now we look forward to ultimately understanding just how much extra time this drug could give them.
“Significantly, today’s approval means that patients in every part of the UK who could benefit from trastuzumab deruxtecan can now access it on the NHS.[3]
“Anyone looking for support or information can speak to Breast Cancer Now’s expert nurses by calling our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Trastuzumab deruxtecan is approved for use within NHS Scotland for treating HER2 positive unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) or secondary breast cancer after one or more anti-HER2 treatments.
- Trastuzumab deruxtecan was compared to trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) in the DESTINY-Breast03 trial.
- NICE recommended trastuzumab deruxtecan for use on the Cancer Drugs Fund in December 2022.