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NHS approves first new ovarian cancer treatment for 20 years
The targeted therapy extends median survival by 3.7 months and has fewer side effects, officials said, offering a new option after 20 years.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved mirvetuximab soravtansine for NHS use, marking the first new treatment for hard-to-treat ovarian cancer in 20 years.
Experts hailed the "landmark" decision, noting that women with specific late-stage cancers previously faced "limited" treatment options when traditional chemotherapy failed to stop the disease.
Developed by AbbVie, the targeted therapy functions as a "biological missile" by attaching to cancer cells, extending average survival from 12.8 months on chemotherapy to 16.5 months.
NHS England estimates up to 400 patients annually could benefit, with the treatment administered by drip every three weeks rather than weekly, reducing side-effect burden.
Retired NHS physiotherapist Patricia Hill, who began treatment in January, described the drug as a "game changer" that allows her to resume activities like visiting family.