A groundbreaking targeted treatment for the most common type of bladder cancer has been approved for use by the NHS, offering new hope to hundreds of patients.
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended erdafitinib, also known as Balversa and manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, for some adult patients in England. This decision is expected to benefit about 420 individuals.
Erdafitinib is an oral medication taken once daily. It works by blocking certain proteins to slow down or stop the growth of cancer cells and has been recommended to adults with metastatic or unresectable FGFR-altered urothelial cancer who have previously received at least one line of immunotherapy that blocks the interaction between certain proteins.
According to the NHS, about 10,000 people are diagnosed with bladder cancer every year.
Urothelial cancer develops in the cells that form the inner lining of the bladder, urethra, ureter, or renal pelvis, the hollow part in the middle of each kidney.
It accounts for about 90 per cent of all bladder cancers, according to Nice.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said she was “pleased we have been able to recommend this effective, targeted treatment option which will make a significant difference to people’s lives”.
“There are limited treatment options for this devastating and debilitating disease, which in many cases responds poorly to immunotherapies, so I’m sure today’s guidance will be welcomed by patients.
“One of the benefits of this drug is it can be taken in the comfort of the patients’ own home rather than having to travel to hospital to receive the treatment.”
Bladder cancer symptoms
NHS
Blood in your urine, or haematuria, is the most common symptom of bladder cancer.
Less common symptoms of bladder cancer include:
- a need to urinate on a more frequent basis
- sudden urges to urinate
- a burning sensation when passing urine
Jeannie Rigby, chief executive of the charity Action Bladder Cancer UK, welcomed the Nice decision.
“There are very few treatments available for bladder cancer in general, and particularly for people with advanced disease,” she said.
“It’s time that bladder cancer patients had some kind of new treatment available – we hope this is just the start of new hope for those with bladder cancer and their families.”
