Bladder Cancer Therapy Doubles Survival Rates, Approved for NHS Use

On August 21, 2025, a groundbreaking new treatment for advanced bladder cancer was approved for use in the NHS. The combination therapy, which includes the drugs enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab, has been shown to significantly improve survival rates for patients with late-stage disease.

According to experts, this approval marks a "fundamental shift" in the care of bladder cancer patients. Until now, treatment options for those with advanced, metastatic bladder cancer had not changed much since the 1980s. Only 29% of stage 4 patients were surviving a year after diagnosis, indicating a real "unmet need" in this area.

The clinical trial data is extremely promising, with the combination therapy leading to an average survival time of 33.8 months, compared to just 15.9 months for standard chemotherapy. Patients also experienced longer progression-free survival, and a higher rate of complete response, with no evidence of remaining cancer. One patient, Martyn Hewett, said the treatment had given him more time to see his grandson grow up, calling himself "very, very lucky."

This new therapy is expected to benefit around 1,250 people in England each year, offering a lifeline to those with advanced bladder cancer. Experts are hailing it as "one of the most hopeful advances in decades" for this patient population, helping them live longer and spend more precious time with their loved ones.