Thousands of men with prostate cancer will be offered a life-extending drug on the NHS within weeks.
For the first time, patients whose prostate cancer has not spread will be able to receive abiraterone in England as access to the treatment is widened. Around 2,000 men diagnosed in the last three months whose cancer has not spread will get access if it is of clinical benefit. A further 7,000 men are expected to be diagnosed each year and will be eligible.
Abiraterone works by starving the cancer of hormones it needs to grow, such as testosterone. Research shows improved survival for these earlier-stage patients: after six years, 86% of men on abiraterone were alive compared with 77% on standard treatment (hormone therapy with or without radiotherapy).
NHS England has been able to expand access after securing better value when buying and delivering treatments, following clinical advice to roll the drug out last year. The NHS has a target to save over £1 billion on clinically effective biosimilar drugs during this parliament; more than eight in 10 drugs the NHS prescribes are now lower-cost biosimilar or generic medicines, freeing funds for other treatments.
The NHS in England already commissions abiraterone—now available as a lower-cost generic—for advanced prostate cancer, having introduced a commissioning policy in December 2024, nearly a year ahead of positive NICE guidance in November 2025.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer at NHS England, said: “For thousands of men with prostate cancer, this treatment option could be life-changing by helping keep their cancer at bay for several years. The life-extending treatment available on the NHS within weeks will mean thousands of men can kick-start their year with the news that they will have a better chance of living longer and healthier lives. The NHS will continue to work hard to offer people the most effective and evidence-based treatments, with several new prostate cancer drugs rolled over the last five years.”
NHS England worked with campaigners including Prostate Cancer UK to secure the rollout. In the past five years the NHS in England has also commissioned targeted prostate cancer therapies including enzalutamide, darolutamide, relugolix and apalutamide.
John Stewart, National Director of Specialised Commissioning at NHS England, said: “I am delighted that we are today able to confirm that we can move ahead and offer this important treatment to thousands more men, which I hope comes as welcome news for those that could benefit from this drug, as well as their families and friends. I want to put on record my thanks to Prostate Cancer UK for their collaboration and partnership, supporting the health service to start offering this drug which could make a real difference to the lives of men with this type of prostate cancer.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “When you’re living with prostate cancer, every day with your loved ones matters. I’m delighted the NHS have taken the steps needed to make the drug available, giving thousands of men access to abiraterone – a treatment that significantly improves survival rates and can give patients precious extra years of life. We’re backing the best clinical evidence, making smart funding decisions, and ensuring patients get the care they need when they need it most. We’re serious about improving prostate cancer outcomes – treating it faster and giving loved ones more time together.”
In parallel, NHS England will offer blood plasma treatment for people with the rare condition Clarkson’s Syndrome and genetic testing for parents with pre-existing conditions going through IVF, as outcomes following clinical advice and enabled by long-term funding.
