Breakthrough ovarian cancer drug mirvetuximab soravtansine now available on NHS

A breakthrough ovarian cancer drug that delivers chemotherapy directly to cancerous tissue, extending lives and improving quality of life, is now available on the NHS. The drug, mirvetuximab soravtansine, is described as a "biological missile" or "Trojan horse" therapy that targets cancer cells, reducing debilitating side-effects compared to conventional chemotherapy.

Up to 400 patients a year in England could benefit from the new treatment, which is the first for hard-to-treat ovarian cancer in 20 years. There are nearly 7,750 cases of ovarian cancer in the UK each year. The drug was developed by the pharmaceutical company AbbVie.

Clinical trial results show mirvetuximab soravtansine extends lives from an average of 12.8 months on chemotherapy to 16.5 months on the therapy. Crucially, it improves quality of life with fewer side-effects, allowing patients to retain their hair and receive treatment via a drip every three weeks instead of weekly infusions.

The drug works by fusing a deadly chemotherapy drug to an antibody designed to spot markings called folate receptor alpha that appear on the outside of some ovarian cancer cells. The antibodies travel to the cancerous cells, stick to the surface, and are absorbed, releasing their toxic payload to kill the cancer. About 30-40% of cancers that do not respond to chemotherapy have these markings.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved mirvetuximab soravtansine for use in ovarian, peritoneal and fallopian tube cancer when chemotherapy no longer works and the cancers have the right markings. NHS England will pay for the drug, with Wales and Northern Ireland expected to follow suit.

Clinical trials were run at University College London Hospitals, with researchers noting the drug improves survival for this group of patients and is easier to manage than standard chemotherapy. The NHS national clinical lead for cancer drugs called it the "most significant breakthrough" in treating these hard-to-treat ovarian cancers "in over two decades."

Patient experiences highlight the difference in quality of life. One patient diagnosed in 2023 reported being able to visit family, attend theatre shows, and dine out—activities that were impossible on conventional chemotherapy. Another patient who participated in clinical trials said she tolerated the treatment very well, with hardly any side effects, and saw her cancer nodules shrink.

Patient advocacy groups have welcomed the decision, noting the drug's potential to make a real difference for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who have faced limited effective treatment options for far too long.