Hundreds of people with a rare but aggressive type of lung cancer are set to benefit from a new life-extending treatment, following today’s (Tuesday 16 September) announcement from NICE.
Durvalumab (also known as Imfinzi), an immunotherapy developed by AstraZeneca, has been approved for use on the NHS in England for adults with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) whose cancer has not progressed after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
This is the first immunotherapy NICE has recommended for this form of the disease – a condition that accounts for around 30% of all small cell lung cancer diagnoses and affects just over 1,000 people in England every year.
A long-awaited breakthrough
Small cell lung cancer is one of the most aggressive types of lung cancer. It grows quickly and, in most cases, has already spread at the point of diagnosis. For those diagnosed with limited-stage disease – where the cancer is contained in one area of the chest – treatment has barely changed in more than 20 years, with patients offered only chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then monitoring.
The approval of durvalumab marks a much-needed breakthrough. Clinical trials show the drug can significantly extend survival. People receiving durvalumab lived, on average, over 22 months longer than those given a placebo. The treatment also improved the time before the cancer progressed, almost doubling progression-free survival.
It is estimated that around 530 people in England each year could benefit from durvalumab, which is delivered via an infusion every 2–4 weeks.
“A huge step forward for people with small cell lung cancer”
Paula Chadwick, chief executive of Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, welcomed the news: “This decision offers a huge step forward for people diagnosed with limited-stage small cell lung cancer, a disease where progress has been desperately overdue.
“For more than two decades, patients have faced the same treatment options with little change in outcomes. Now there is finally a treatment that can extend survival and give people more precious time with their loved ones.
“On behalf of everyone affected by lung cancer, we welcome NICE’s recommendation and the hope it brings to families facing this devastating diagnosis.”
Helen Knight, Director of Medicines Evaluation at NICE, said: “I am very pleased we have been able to recommend this effective new treatment for a highly aggressive form of lung cancer with limited treatment options.
“This is a devastating disease with a poor prognosis, so a drug proven to improve the length and quality of people’s lives, giving them more precious time with their family and friends, is most welcome.
“This is the first immunotherapy NICE has recommended for limited-stage small cell lung cancer, and we are determined to ensure we continue focusing on what matters most by getting the best care to people fast.”