Lymphoma drug gets NHS go-ahead in England

People with a certain type of lymphoma will now have access to a targeted anti-cancer drug in the NHS in England.

Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) has been approved by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for some patients with a type of skin lymphoma, called cutaneous lymphoma CD30-positive T-cell (LCC).

The drug will now be an option for patients whose lymphoma has returned or worsened after a series of treatment, after finding that it was possible to prevent the worsening of the disease. It can be used before a stem cell transplant or alone.

Rose Gray, Policy Officer for Cancer Research UK, called the decision "fantastic news".

"This drug has shown great benefit in clinical trials for patients with more aggressive disease, and compared to existing treatment options, more patients had their cancer contracted after receiving the drug, which also significantly delayed spread of their cancer. "

Targeting lymphoma cells

CTL is a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin. It usually develops as red, flat patches on the surface of the skin, which can then turn into tumors.

The newly approved treatment sticks to a molecule on the surface of certain lymphoma cells and delivers a drug to kill the cell. It will be available for the two most common types of skin lymphoma, mycosis fungoides and Sezary's syndrome.

Expanded treatment options

The standard treatment for NHS patients with this type of lymphoma is methotrexate, a drug used in chemotherapy, or another drug called bexarotene. However, in a trial of 128 patients with CTL, brentuximab vedotin was found to be more effective in reducing tumors.

Thirty-six out of 64 patients taking the targeted drug saw their cancer respond to treatment for at least 4 months, compared with 8 out of 64 taking one of the standard treatments. Patients who took brentuximab vedotin were alive without their cancer worsening for an average of 16.5 months, compared to an average of 3.5 months for ongoing treatments.

The group taking brentuximab vedotin also reported fewer serious side effects than those taking current treatments. However, brentuximab vedotin has affected the nervous system in a large number of patients; 44 out of 64 patients experienced a tingling sensation or pain at the end of their fingers or toes, called peripheral neuropathy.

NICE initially rejected the targeted treatment because he could not calculate the cost of treatment. But the company has since submitted new evidence, which allowed NICE to specify the likely cost of the drug for the NHS.

"Patients and clinicians have told NICE that there is a real need for new treatment options for this type of blood cancer, so it's great that NHS England, NICE and the company are working together to achieve this. agreement, "said Gray.

Provided by
Cancer Research UK