The pill is far more convenient than existing treatments for the condition (Image: Getty)
A daily pill for will be offered to around 1,000 women on the , marking a “step-change” in treatment for the debilitating condition. The tablet combines three hormones and can be taken at home, reducing the need for women to travel to a clinic.
It has a list price of £72 for a 28-day supply, or around £2.57 per day, but medicines are often supplied to the NHS for a confidential discount. Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, said: “This new treatment marks a potential step-change in how we manage endometriosis, putting control back in patients’ hands while ensuring value for the taxpayer.
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“Instead of travelling to clinics for injections, there is now a daily tablet that can be taken at home.
“The treatment can also be stopped and started more easily, which is particularly important for those planning to have children and for managing side effects.
“This convenience not only benefits patients but reduces pressure on NHS services.”
Around 1.5 million UK women live with endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus.
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The new approval represents the first long-term daily pill to treat symptoms including severe pain, heavy periods and exhaustion.
The drug, called relugolix–estradiol–norethisterone or Ryeqo, will be available in to around 1,000 women a year for whom other medical or surgical treatments have failed.
NICE initially rejected the drug, but new evidence was provided by the manufacturer Gedeon Richter to address questions about effectiveness and value for money.
According to the NHS website, it can take a long time to diagnose endometriosis because symptoms can be similar to other conditions, such as fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease and irritable bowel syndrome.