Two bispecific antibodies have been approved for fourth line treatment of multiple myeloma in Scotland, it has been announced.
The charity Myeloma UK welcomed the news, saying it was the first time in seven years the Scottish Medicines Consortium had approved a new class of drug for the disease.
The drugs, elranatamab and teclistamab, were approved for use by NHS England earlier this year - but they were restricted, for the moment, to patients who have not had pomalidomide. In Scotland, teclistamab has gained permanent approval. Meanwhile, elranatamab has interim approval and will face a future reassessment once more evidence is gathered.
Myeloma UK says the drugs have been shown to stop the progress of disease for 11 months on average, and some patients have achieved their first complete remission. The drugs work by binding both to T cells and to myeloma cells, drawing the T cells towards the disease and enabling them to destroy it.
Scott Purdon, from Myeloma UK, said: “We’re absolutely delighted. Elranatamab and teclistamab are the first new class of drugs to be approved in Scotland in seven years and each could be a lifeline for people who are close to running out of treatment options. They have both shown excellent results in clinical trials and allowed some people who have never responded well to treatment to experience their very first complete remission.
“Until we have a cure, it is absolutely vital that all myeloma patients are given as many options to tackle their cancer as possible – no matter where they are on their treatment journey.”
Source: Myeloma UK
https://www.myeloma.org.uk/news/lifeline-for-patients-as-new-class-of-drugs-approved-in-scotland/
Link:
Teclistamab approval: https://scottishmedicines.org.uk/medicines-advice/teclistamab-tecvayli-full-smc2668/
Elranatamab interim approval: https://scottishmedicines.org.uk/medicines-advice/elranatamab-elrexfio-full-smc2669/
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