Overview

• Capivasertib, a twice-daily pill, has been approved by NICE for routine use on the NHS, marking a major advancement in cancer treatment.
• The drug, when combined with fulvestrant, doubles the time patients live without disease progression, extending progression-free survival from 3.6 to 7.2 months in clinical trials.
• Capivasertib targets the AKT protein, which drives cancer cell proliferation, and is suitable for patients with specific genetic mutations in PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN genes.
• The approval follows initial regulatory delays, with experts now emphasizing the need for prompt genetic testing to identify eligible patients quickly.
• Developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with British researchers and institutions, the drug is expected to benefit up to 3,000 women annually in England and Wales.