New Use of Breast Cancer Drug Is Set To Benefit Thousands of Women
Tens of thousands of women in England are set to benefit from a "repurposed" drug aimed at reducing the risk of breast cancer.
Anastrozole, previously used to treat breast cancer, is now available as a preventive option for post-menopausal women at moderate or high risk of the disease following its recent licensing for this purpose by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
It's estimated that around 289,000 women could be eligible for the treatment. If even a quarter of them choose to take it, it could potentially prevent 2,000 cases of breast cancer in England, while saving the NHS £15 million in treatment costs.
What is Anastrozole?
Anastrozole, which works by reducing oestrogen production in the body, is taken as a 1mg tablet once a day for five years. The drug offers an attractive alternative to tamoxifen, a current preventative treatment, with research indicating that it is more effective in preventing breast cancer and has fewer side effects.
Anastrozole was initially recommended for prevention by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2017. However, it remained underused due to its unlicensed status. Thanks to the Medicines Repurposing Programme led by NHS England, it now holds a new MHRA indication, bringing hope to women, including those with a family history of breast cancer. This marks the first time a drug has been repurposed through a new multi-agency national program that explores using existing medicines in new ways to benefit patients and the NHS.
Lesley-Ann Woodhams, who completed a full five-year course of Anastrozole, described it as a "gift" that gave her peace of mind and a continued future to look forward to, given her high risk and family history of breast cancer.
Breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer in England, with 47,000 new cases diagnosed each year. With this innovative step, Anastrozole is expected to provide hope and relief to many women at risk of the disease, making it a major leap forward in cancer prevention.
