NHS approves new treatment for aggressive cancer that could triple life expectancy
A life-extending treatment for an aggressive form of cancer has been given the green light for use on the NHS, offering new hope to patients battling bile duct cancer. Health officials recommended zanidatamab for people diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a disease that is usually detected at a late stage when surgical removal is no longer an option.
Clinical studies show the new treatment could almost triple patients’ life expectancy compared to existing treatments. This is particularly important given that fewer than one in three people diagnosed in the UK survive within a year of diagnosis, and treatment options have historically been limited.
The news was welcomed by patients and their families, including relatives of Huw Jones, who campaigned for the drug to be widely available before his death earlier this year. Mr Jones, 33, from Llanuwchllyn in North Wales, was diagnosed with stage 4 cholangiocarcinoma in 2024 after feeling pain following triathlon training. The diagnosis came the day before his partner’s 20-week scan for their first child.
He began taking zanidatamab as part of a clinical trial in January 2025, the same month his son Idris was born. His family believes the drug allowed them to spend a precious year together as a family of three. Following his death, his family continued to fight for NHS approval.
Gareth Jones, Huw’s father, said: “While we all wish Huw was still with us, we are grateful that zanidatamab has allowed him to spend valuable time with his new son Idris and the rest of our family. It has also given him much-needed hope during treatment for cholangiocarcinoma. “Often patients with this cancer are given little or no options, so knowing that this treatment is now available through the NHS is excellent news for people who are HER2 positive in England and Wales cholangiocarcinoma.”
Gareth Honeybone, an NHS surgeon from Sheffield and also a cholangiocarcinoma patient, echoed these sentiments. After his first tumor was surgically removed and he received chemotherapy, a new tumor was detected in August 2024. Following further chemotherapy and immunotherapy, Mr Honeybone started zanidatamab through a clinical trial in January 2025, and subsequent scans showed the tumor was no longer visible.
Mr Honeybone said: “I’m delighted to hear Zanidatamab has been recommended for approval. I’m proud that my success with the drug has contributed to more patients and families enjoying the same benefits I have.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) initially rejected the treatment in draft guidance but has now endorsed it in its final draft for patients with HER2-positive advanced bile duct cancer who have received at least one previous treatment.
The antibody therapy, also known as Ziihera, targets a protein called HER2, which stimulates tumor growth. It works by activating the immune system to eliminate cancer cells and reduces HER2 levels, thus preventing further growth. Clinical trial data revealed that patients treated with zanidatamab survived an average of 18.1 months, compared with 6.2 months on existing second-line treatments.
Helen Knight, director of drug evaluation at Nice, said: “I am delighted that we can recommend this effective new treatment option, which is the first HER2-targeted drug that Nice recommends for people with biliary tract cancer in the UK. Patients and clinical experts taking part in the evaluation told us how this treatment would make a huge difference by extending people’s lives and improving their quality of life, something that is not always possible with chemotherapy.”
Helen Morement, chief executive of cholangiocarcinoma charity AMMF, added: “During Nice’s evaluation we heard from patients and their families about the positive difference zanidatamab has made to them. We are therefore delighted that more people with advanced HER2 positive disease will be able to access this life-extending treatment through the NHS.”
Nice estimates that approximately 65 patients per year will benefit from the treatment, administered via an intravenous drip every two weeks. The manufacturer, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, has made zanidatamab available to the NHS at a discount through a commercial agreement.
