Quizartinib is to be funded by the NHS in England for the treatment of some patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), it has been announced.
The tyrosine-kinase blocker gained regulatory approval in March, and will now be available through the Cancer Drugs Fund as an oral treatment, NHS England announced.
By blocking tyrosine kinase, the drug blocks the production of large numbers of abnormal bone marrow cells. The drug is suitable for treatment of the 27% of AML patients whose cancer carries the FLT3-ITD genetic mutation.
In England the drug will be offered as part of initial chemotherapy, and then for three years as a maintenance treatment. Some patients will then be able to receive stem cell therapy, NHS England said. The agency says it has now been offered a “fair” price for the treatment, agreed to be cost effective by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The NHS national clinical director for cancer Professor Peter Johnson said: “It’s very good news that patients with this type of leukaemia now have an option that helps their chemotherapy to work better, boosting their chance of remission and long-term survival and offering them precious extra time with their families and friends.”
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “This is a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer with few treatment options. Patients tell us that existing treatments can be very gruelling and that more options would be welcome.
“Clinical evidence found patients taking quizartinib had an average overall survival of almost 32 months compared to just over 15 months for those receiving the placebo, and our independent committee found it to be a cost-effective treatment.”
The decision was welcomed by Blood Cancer UK. The charity’s director of research and policy Dr Rubina Ahmed said: “For those with acute myeloid leukaemia with the FLT3-ITD mutation, the latest research shows the drug gives people a better chance of their cancer going into remission and can extend people’s life. It also offers the option of being used after a stem cell transplant, unlike current treatments.
“However, the chances of survival from acute myeloid leukaemia across the UK remains poor and this drug cannot be used for everyone with the condition, so we must ensure that no stone is left unturned in the hunt for new treatments.”
Source: NHS England
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