New stomach cancer drug approved for NHS use in ‘first major advance’ in treatment in a decade

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A new immunotherapy treatment for aggressive stomach cancer has been approved by the NHS spending watchdog.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has given the green light for the immunotherapy drug durvalumab, also known as Imfinzi and made by AstraZeneca, to be used by the NHS for adults whose stomach cancer has not spread extensively and can be surgically removed.

An estimated 1,500 people annually could benefit following the ruling.

Immunotherapy helps harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Trials have shown that durvalumab plus chemotherapy can increase the amount of time people have before their cancer progresses, and has also been shown to increase survival.

The decision was hailed as the “first major advance” in stomach cancer treatment for nearly a decade.

Helen Knight, who is the director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: “Stomach cancer is a devastating disease with high rates of recurrence after surgery, so there is an urgent need for treatments like durvalumab that meaningfully extend both the length and quality of patients’ lives.”

Durvalumab has been given the green light for NHS use (Getty)

Sheena Dewan, executive director at Stomach Cancer UK, said: “This is the first major advance in curative-intent treatment for stomach cancer in nearly a decade.

“Adding immunotherapy to perioperative chemotherapy offers a real opportunity for lower recurrence and longer survival. For too long, patients have been enduring the dual burden of life-altering surgery and high rates of recurrence.

“This treatment gives individuals and families living with the constant fear that the cancer will return a meaningful opportunity for more time with loved ones, more time at work and more time to live well beyond treatment and even cure.”

According to Cancer Research UK, stomach cancer is when “abnormal cells in the stomach start to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way”. It can also be known as gastric cancer.

The charity website details that symptoms of stomach cancer include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, indigestion, and feeling and being sick.

It is estimated that there are around 6,800 stomach cancer cases in the UK every year, and that stomach cancer is the 18th most common cancer in the UK.

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