NICE backs new combination therapy for advanced bladder cancer

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has approved a novel first‑line treatment for adults with unresectable or metastatic urothelial cancer who are eligible for platinum-based chemotherapy. The regimen combines enfortumab vedotin (Padcev) with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and is now available on the NHS in England and Wales.

Clinical trials revealed that the new combination nearly doubled progression‑free survival—from 6.3 to 12.5 months—and extended overall survival dramatically, with median overall survival reaching 33.8 months compared to 15.9 months with chemotherapy alone. Around 30 percent of patients had no detectable cancer after treatment, markedly higher than rates seen with traditional chemotherapy.

Oncology experts have hailed the development as a transformational moment. With previous bladder cancer treatments only modestly effective, this breakthrough offers renewed hope to patients through both extended life expectancy and improved quality of life.