Scotland has become the first part of the UK to approve two new cancer drugs for routine use on the NHS.
A treatment that could extend the life of men with advanced prostate cancer has been accepted by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), along with a drug that could help kidney cancer patients whose disease has spread.
The SMC is the first UK appraisal body to approve enzalutamide as a treatment for prostate cancer patients whose cancer has spread to other parts of their body.
Prostate cancer affects more than 2500 people in Scotland each year, with the disease becoming more advanced in 10% to 20% of sufferers, but drugs firm Astellas Pharma Limited said a trial shows the new medicine meant patients lived an average 4.8 months longer.
The SMC's decided to approve enzalutamide after a Europe-wide trial, including some Scottish patients, in which the drug is said to have reduced the risk of death by 37%.
Dr Rob Jones, senior lecturer and honorary consultant in medical oncology at Glasgow University, hailed the approval of the drug as a notable milestone.
He said: "Enzalutamide has demonstrated its ability to prolong life, whilst also improving the quality of life for those with this form of the disease."
Rob Lester, chairman of the Edinburgh and Lothian Prostate Cancer Support Group, also welcomed the decision.
"Patients and their families will be glad to see that enzalutamide is now freely obtainable to all those eligible for therapy," he said.
"In recent years the number of people diagnosed with prostate cancer in Scotland has increased and now many men and their families are affected year on year. Today's news brings fresh hope for these individuals. We look forward to a time when more men with advanced prostate cancer are eligible for this treatment."
The SMC also accepted the use of axitinib for treating kidney cancer patients, for whom some other previous treatments have failed.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which approves drugs for use on the NHS in England, has already decided not to recommend axitinib for use, meaning patients south of the border have to try to use the Cancer Drugs Fund to get the treatment.
On average there are more than 800 cases of kidney cancer a year in Scotland, with around 340 deaths a year from the disease.
Dr Jones, also a consultant at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, welcomed the SMC's decision to allow patients in Scotland to get axitinib treatment on the NHS.
"This decision is great news for kidney cancer patients in Scotland. It gives eligible patients access to an effective second-line treatment option where they previously had none," he said.
"It's also a positive sign for improving cancer outcomes for patients in Scotland where traditionally outcomes fall behind other European countries."
Dr David Montgomery, medical director of drugs company Pfizer Oncology UK, said: "This important decision will benefit advanced kidney cancer patients in Scotland. Historically access to cancer medicines has been a challenge in Scotland, compared with other European countries where oncologists regularly have access to a number of second-line advanced kidney cancer treatments.
"This decision is a step in the right direction for improving access to cancer medicines in Scotland and improving outcomes for patients."
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