NHS patients in Scotland to benefit from new blood cancer drug

People with myeloma in Scotland will now be able to access the drug Blenrep in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BorDex), following new guidance from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

The SMC has approved Blenrep as a second-line treatment option for adults with myeloma when lenalidomide is unsuitable, bringing new hope to hundreds of people across Scotland each year.

This decision follows approval earlier this year from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which made the same treatment combination available on the NHS in England. It means that people in Scotland will now also be among the first in the world to benefit from belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep).

Myeloma is a form of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called plasma cells. It remains incurable, with people typically going through cycles of remission and relapse.

Developed by GSK, Blenrep has been described as a “trojan horse therapy” because it targets myeloma cells expressing the BCMA protein, delivering an anti-cancer agent directly to them.

The SMC’s decision is based on results from the DREAMM clinical trials. The DREAMM7 trial showed that combining Blenrep with BorDex improved outcomes for people with myeloma compared with standard treatment.

Laura Challinor, Senior Policy Manager at Blood Cancer UK welcomes the decision and said:
“We’re really pleased that the SMC has approved belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep) in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BorDex) for people with myeloma when lenalidomide is unsuitable.

“This brings Scotland in line with England and means that people with myeloma across the UK now have access to this innovative therapy. Blood cancer is the UK’s third biggest cancer killer, and myeloma remains incurable - so access to new, life-extending treatments like Blenrep offers renewed hope for many.

“Clinical trials are the lifeblood of progress, and Blenrep’s approval is a powerful reminder of how research transforms hope into reality. The availability of Blenrep across both England and Scotland marks another major step forward in improving treatment options and quality of life for people living with myeloma. But the work isn’t done, decisions in Northern Ireland are still awaited and at Blood Cancer UK, we’ll continue to campaign for faster access to effective treatments and fund the research that will ultimately beat blood cancer sooner.”