NHS patients to be first in world to benefit from new blood cancer drug
Today the drug, Blenrep, will be available for those in England and Wales with myeloma as a second line treatment option on the NHS. The drug is available for adults who are refractory to or intolerant to lenalidomide and must be used in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BorDex) therapy.
The decision from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) means around 3,600 patients across England and Wales every year will now be eligible for this treatment combination.
This decision comes after positive recommendation from drug regulators, NICE and it comes quickly after licensing approval by the MHRA. It means eligible patients in the UK will be the first in the world to have access to belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep).
Myeloma is a form of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called plasma cells. It is incurable, with people living with the disease, going through periods of remission and relative stability before their cancer returns.
Blenrep, has been described as a 'trojan horse therapy'. The drug developed by GSK targets myeloma cells expressing the BCMA protein and has been through quite the journey to approval. This latest decision is based on results from clinical trials called DREAMM, which showed that using Blenrep in combination improved outcomes for people with myeloma compared to the standard care.
Tracey Loftis, Deputy Director of Policy and Influencing at Blood Cancer UK welcomed the new drug and said:
“We’re pleased NICE has approved Blenrep to treat myeloma in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BorDex) therapy. This approval for use in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as a second-line treatment option means that people here in the UK will be the first in the world to receive it. Blood cancer is the UK’s third largest cancer killer, and myeloma remains an incurable blood cancer. Yet access to innovative therapies like Blenrep will provide renewed hope for many newly diagnosed.
“At Blood Cancer UK, we continue to push for greater access to life-extending treatments and further research into myeloma therapies. It’s particularly affirming to see this approval come after new data from clinical trials, which we know are the only way we will beat blood cancer sooner.
“A decision as to when this drug will be available in Scotland will have to be made by a separate body, the SMC. As well as investing heavily in clinical trials, we will continue to work towards ensuring that everyone in the UK affected by myeloma has the best possible chance of living well for longer.”