New NHS treatment to bring ‘fundamental shift’ for people with bladder cancer

Health & Fitness
22 Aug 2025 • 4:54 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • A new combination treatment for advanced bladder cancer has been approved for use on the NHS in England.
  • The treatment, combining enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab, marks a fundamental shift in care, as options for this condition had not significantly changed since the 1980s.
  • Clinical trials showed that the new therapy more than doubled patients' average survival time to 33.8 months, compared to 15.9 months with traditional chemotherapy.
  • It is estimated that approximately 1,250 people annually could benefit from this innovative treatment, which also demonstrated a higher rate of complete cancer response.
  • Experts and patient advocates have welcomed the approval, highlighting its potential to significantly improve the length and quality of life for those with advanced bladder cancer.

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