AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo are close to striking a pricing agreement with UK regulators to get their breast cancer drug Enhertu covered by the NHS. NICE had previously blocked coverage, deeming it not cost-effective. A deal could open access to the HER2-targeted therapy for metastatic breast cancer patients across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
AstraZeneca and its Japanese partner Daiichi Sankyo are reportedly nearing a pricing deal with the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that could finally bring their breast cancer drug Enhertu to NHS patients. NICE had previously rejected coverage, citing concerns about cost-effectiveness — a major hurdle for a drug already approved in 95 countries for breast, gastric, and lung cancers.
The breakthrough comes amid a broader thaw in UK-pharma relations. AstraZeneca pledged £300 million in UK investments in April, and a bilateral UK-US pharmaceutical trade deal has set the stage for gradual price alignment. AstraZeneca's CEO noted that updated cost-effectiveness methodology gave the company renewed hope for reimbursement at an acceptable — though below U.S. — price point.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: If finalized, this deal could be a lifeline for HER2-low metastatic breast cancer patients in the UK who currently lack NHS access to one of oncology's most closely watched therapies.
