Enhertu breast cancer drug now available on NHS in England
Enhertu, a life-extending drug for incurable breast cancer, is now available on the NHS in England after being rejected on cost grounds. It offers patients an average of almost seven extra months.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Patients in England with a specific type of incurable breast cancer can now be prescribed Enhertu on the NHS, after the drug was previously turned down as not representing value for money. The change, which affects around 1,000 women a year, comes after a trade deal with the USA under which the UK government agreed to spend 25% more on medicines.
Enhertu gives patients an average of almost seven extra months to live, and some can survive up to three years longer. Campaigners have spent years fighting for access to the drug, which has been available in Scotland and in 27 European countries, including in some places since 2023.
The decision follows a long and emotional campaign. One patient, Kate Wills, learned she would now be eligible for Enhertu. "To know that I can get it now and that I can get more time, it's everything, absolutely everything," she said. Her friend Jeannie, who also had secondary breast cancer and campaigned for the drug, died in January before she could receive it. Wills said her first thought was for friends she had lost, but she now dared to dream of seeing her children fall in love and get married, and of becoming a grandmother.
Another campaigner, Alison Jones, heard the news on her daughter's 21st birthday. "I was just overjoyed and overwhelmed," she said. "It feels like it's the best birthday present ever." The joy was mixed with frustration for some patients, such as Jess, who had to crowdfund for the drug when it was not available on the NHS. She said: "If I could have had access to this drug in December, I may never have got the disease in my, you know, might not have had time to spread as much as it did."
The health advisory body NICE had previously said Enhertu was not cost-effective for the NHS in England. But changes to the rules that affect NICE, partly driven by the US trade deal, have now tipped the balance. NICE's director of medicines evaluation, Helen Knight, said: "Our role is important ensuring NHS spending on new medicines reflects the benefits they deliver." She acknowledged that the decision would come too late for many families.
Wales is expected to make Enhertu available soon, but the decision does not automatically apply in Northern Ireland. For the women who can now get the drug on the NHS, the news offers hope and more time with their families.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | ITV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhertu can extend life, with reported gains ranging from an average of nearly seven months to up to three years. | |||
| Patients in England with a specific type of incurable breast cancer can now access Enhertu on the NHS. | · | ||
| Enhertu's availability in England is attributed to a US-UK trade deal that increased UK government spending on medicines by 25%. | · | · | |
| The Enhertu decision will affect approximately one thousand women per year with a particular incurable breast cancer. | · | · | |
| The government changed NICE rules so that it can better take into account the benefits of drugs such as Enhertu. | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC ONE West focused on the personal story of patient Kate Wills and the wider campaign, weaving in the emotional timeline from first meeting to the empty-shoes protest and Jeannie's death. It explained the political context in detail, including the US trade deal and changes to NICE rules, and stressed that Wales and Northern Ireland have not yet followed England.
- “To know that I can get it now and that I can get more time It's everything absolutely everything”
- “We understand that drug companies haven't particularly lowered their prices and that this is actually the result of a trade deal with the USA where the UK government has agreed to spend 25% more on medicines.”
- “I think it's really important They can now better take account of some of the benefits of a drug like this, but it is Tribute to many of the campaigners who have been arguing for such a long time”
ITV1 centred on campaigner Alison Jones and her emotional reaction on her daughter's 21st birthday, highlighting the relief and joy of the decision. It also gave voice to a patient who had to crowdfund for Enhertu and stressed the frustration that women in Scotland had access since 2023, while England lagged behind.
- “I was just overjoyed and overwhelmed.”
- “We just cried our eyes out, weren't we? We were so happy.”
- “If I could have had access to this drug in December, I may never have got the disease in my, you know, might not have had time to spread as much as it did.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.