From 4th June, hundreds of women with ovarian cancer who have stopped responding to standard chemotherapy, could benefit from a new life-extending drug on the NHS.
New Targeted Therapy
The drug, mirvetuximab soravtansine, will be used as a targeted therapy for patients with hard-to-treat ovarian cancer. Known as a ‘Trojan horse’ therapy, a chemotherapy drug is combined with an antibody that recognises ovarian cancer cells with the folate receptor alpha protein on their surface.
Once on the surface, the chemotherapy drug is absorbed and released from within, killing the cancerous cell.
Prolonged Survival
A global clinical trial involving eight NHS hospitals saw patients treated with mirvetuximab soravtansine extend their lifespan by almost four months when compared to those treated with standard chemotherapy. The treatment delayed cancer progression and prolonged survival.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has now approved the drug for women with epithelial ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer – those whose tumours contain the folate receptor alpha protein and have stopped responding to traditional platinum-based chemotherapy.
Given that this new drug acts as a biological missile specifically targeting ovarian cancer cells, treatment may result in more tolerable side effects when compared to traditional chemotherapy which is less precise and harms healthy cells.
The drug is administered intravenously once every three weeks over a 2–4-hour period and is the first new addition to NHS treatment in over 20 years.
According to the NHS, approximately 400 patients in England every year could benefit.
A Significant Breakthrough
NHS national clinical lead for cancer drugs, Professor Ruth Plummer, said: “This represents the most significant breakthrough in NHS treatment for these hard-to-treat ovarian cancers in over two decades – and we’re delighted it will now offer hundreds of women much-needed hope of precious extra time with their loved ones.”.
Patricia Hill, a retired NHS physiotherapist diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023, said: “The feelings of isolation and loneliness that you have undergoing conventional chemotherapy are totally or more or less totally eradicated when using mirvetuximab. It actually adds life to years, rather than spending your life in bed recovering from the side effects of chemotherapy.”.
Featured Image: New Africa on Adobe Stock
