There was a significant drop in breast cancer return rates

The Scottish Medicines Consortium took the decision after an international study suggested that Taxotere improved survival rates by almost a third.

The drug, which comes from Yew trees, will be available immediately.

However, a decision on its use in England and Wales is not due to be taken until February 2007.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) approval was based on a five-year study.

This is important news for Scotland as it means those women diagnosed with higher risk breast cancer will be able to have a better chance with this drug Dr David Cameron Consultant oncologist

It suggested a 30% reduction in the risk of death from breast cancer in patients treated with the drug, which is also known as docetaxel.

Researchers also found a 28% reduction in risk of the disease coming back and almost of 90% women treated with the drug were alive after five years.

Three-quarters of women were disease-free at the end of the period, compared to 68% on standard therapy.

Scotland in lead

Dr David Cameron, consultant medical oncologist at Edinburgh's Western General Hospital, said: "This is important news for Scotland as it means those women diagnosed with higher risk breast cancer will be able to have a better chance with this drug."

Pamela Goldberg, chief executive of Breast Cancer Campaign, said: "It's good news that Scotland is once again taking the lead in approving an effective breast cancer treatment.

"However, there are thousands of women in the rest of the UK who could also benefit and we're urging the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) to speed up their approval process."

We have listened to what patients and healthcare professionals have told us about the need for timely advice on the use of new medicines Andrew Dillon Nice

Professor Rob Coleman, a medical oncologist at Sheffield's Weston Park Hospital, described the drug as a significant advance in treatment options.

Nice said it was in talks with the Department of Health to fast-track approval of Taxotere.

Nice's chief executive Andrew Dillon said: "We have listened to what patients and healthcare professionals have told us about the need for timely advice on the use of new medicines, particularly for life-threatening conditions such as cancer.