Breast cancer drug approved for NHS in England

Around 1,000 people with HER2-low advanced breast cancer in England can now be offered the drug Enhertu on the NHS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said.

NICE's final draft guidance recommends the drug, also known as trastuzumab deruxtecan, for adults with HER2-low advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease has progressed following treatment.

Helen Knight, the director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “I'm pleased that a commercial solution, alongside recent changes to NICE's cost-effectiveness thresholds and the use of new methods for assessing quality-of-life, has meant this treatment can now be provided on the NHS.”

NICE said Enhertu had been the only breast cancer drug it was unable to recommend since 2018, a period in which 25 other breast cancer treatments received positive recommendations.

The commercial solution followed an increase in the cost-effectiveness thresholds NICE uses to judge value for money, part of the UK/US Pharmaceutical Pricing Agreement that took effect in April, NICE said.

It also followed a new method for assessing quality of life, which NICE published on 27 August 2026.

Clinical trial evidence showed Enhertu helped people with HER2-low advanced breast cancer live longer and could also increase the time before their cancer got worse, compared with standard chemotherapy, NICE said.

Knight said the decision came “too late for many families”, adding that NICE's role was to ensure spending on new medicines reflected the benefits they delivered while protecting resources for other patient services.

Dr Anne Rigg, a consultant medical oncologist and NHS England's national specialty adviser for chemotherapy, said the decision was “hugely positive news for women with secondary breast cancer”, giving them “the opportunity for more time with their loved ones”.

The final draft guidance is open for appeal until 7 October 2026, NICE said.