The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is recommending the reimbursement of Astellas’ PADCEV^™ (enfortumab vedotin) with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial cancer, who are eligible for platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Bladder cancer is the 9th most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Approximately 200 people in Scotland are diagnosed with unresectable or metastatic bladder cancer each year. There is a high unmet need for additional treatments for metastatic bladder cancer. The survival rate for unresectable or metastatic bladder cancer is poor. Only 29% of stage IV bladder cancer patients survive more than one year after diagnosis.

Patients with unresectable or metastatic bladder cancer will now be able to access a treatment that substantially increases Overall Survival through the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland.

Professor Rob Jones, Professor of Clinical Cancer Research, University of Glasgow said: “Bladder cancer is common, and while most cases remain localised, those that spread are usually fatal. Historically, treatment in Scotland was limited to chemotherapy or immunotherapy. The combination of enfortumab vedotin and immunotherapy is a step-change as it is significantly more effective than previously-used treatments allowing many patients to live longer, healthier lives despite this devastating diagnosis. I’m delighted that this drug will now be widely available in NHS Scotland and would like to pay tribute to the Scottish patients who took part in the trial which enabled this progress to be made.”

Dr Tim Patel, Medical Director, Astellas, UK said: “I am thrilled that we’ve been able to deliver reimbursement for m/UC patients across Scotland. The decision reflects Astellas’ commitment to making the latest innovations accessible in Scotland so doctors and their patients can benefit.”