Experts urge NHS to make ‘life-changing’ ovarian tumour pill available
Trials have shown taking one of the 'milestone' niraparib drugs per day can prolong the lives of patients
A PILL that holds back ovarian cancer has been launched in the UK but is not yet available on the NHS.
Trials have shown one a day can prolong the lives of patients.
The “milestone” drug niraparib targets cancers caused by defective DNA.
About 85 per cent of women with ovarian cancer suffer a recurrence after chemo.
But in some patients with an inherited gene mutation, the pill increased the time before relapse from 5.5 months to 21.
For those without the mutation, it doubled the length of time.
The drug is now licensed but is yet to be assessed for free use on the NHS.
Ovarian Cancer Action urged officials to approve the potentially “life-changing” pill.