The first approved treatment for previously untreated, late stage, classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma is to be available on the NHS in England, it has been announced.
The treatment, brentuximab vedotin, is to be given with other therapies and is likely to help up to 800 patients a year, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
NICE said it was the first time it had approved a treatment for previously untreated stage 3 or 4 CD30-positive Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The clinical evidence shows the treatment could improve overall survival and delay cancer progression, NICE said.
The decision in the final draft guidance follows an improved discount offer from the manufacturers. Treatment will initially be funded through the Cancer Drugs Fund.
NICE said the decision was the latest in nearly 100 recommendations it has made for blood cancer treatments in the last ten years.
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “Today’s recommendation represents a significant milestone for people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma. Having an alternative to chemotherapy on its own is particularly important for these patients, many of whom may have been told that there is no further effective treatment available to them.”
The decision was welcomed by the charity Lymphoma Action. Dallas Pounds, Director of Services, said: “We are excited that NICE has recommended a new treatment which will provide hope and improved outcomes for patients with advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma who face challenges with currently available treatments.”
Source: NICE
Link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta11384/documents
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