Following a recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the mirvetuximab soravtansine treatment will be available for patients with epithelial ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer that has become resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy and whose tumours contain the FRα protein the drug targets.

Minister for public health, Sharon Hodgson said: ‘This is an important moment for hundreds of women with ovarian cancer and a testament to our commitment to getting the most promising treatments to NHS patients as quickly as possible.

‘Critically, today's decision means that patients will have a better quality of life than they otherwise would.'

In a major global clinical trial involving eight NHS hospitals, the treatment delayed cancer progression and prolonged survival, with patients living 16.5 months on average compared to 12.8 months with chemotherapy.

The treatment is given intravenously (via a drip) over 2-4 hours, once every three weeks.

The NHS estimates up to 400 patients in England each year could benefit.