‘Life changing’ blood cancer drugs approved by NHS for aggressive form of disease

Blood cancer patients in Scotland have a reason to rejoice as the NHS has approved two life-changing drugs for a particularly aggressive form of the disease. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has granted approval for Axicabtagene ciloleucel, more commonly known as axi-cel (Yescarta), which is a CAR-T therapy for adults diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL). DLBCL is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects around 5,500 people in the UK annually, with approximately 450 cases in Scotland.

Aileen Lamb, a survivor of acute myeloid leukaemia from Edinburgh, expressed her optimism about the approval of the new drug, emphasizing the hope it brings to sufferers. The psychological impact of receiving a blood cancer diagnosis, especially a challenging one like acute myeloid leukaemia, can be immense, according to Aileen. The approval of axi-cel signifies a new path to recovery for patients, instilling them with much-needed hope.

Another patient, Kirsty Stewart from Aberdeen, currently living with DLBCL, shared how challenging it is to cope with the constant fatigue, fear of relapse, and harsh side effects of existing treatments. The approval of Yescarta offers fresh hope to more individuals battling this type of blood cancer in Scotland, providing them with a better chance at a cure and a more normal life.

In a notable turnaround, the SMC has now approved axi-cel for second-line use in Scotland after a resubmission by Gilead, the pharmaceutical company developing the drug. This decision allows the drug to be accessible to individuals whose cancer has returned within a year of receiving their initial treatment or for those whose cancer does not respond to the first-line treatment.

Josh Hill, Blood Cancer UK’s Scottish Policy Officer, commended the approval of axi-cel, highlighting that CAR-T therapies like this offer hope to patients dealing with aggressive forms of blood cancer. The availability of innovative treatments like axi-cel is a vital step towards improving survival rates and ensuring that no one succumbs to blood cancer or its treatments.

Additionally, the SMC has recommended Daiichi Sankyo’s drug, quizartinib (Vanflyta), for acute myeloid leukaemia in Scotland. This specific treatment targets newly diagnosed (FLT3-ITD-positive) acute myeloid leukaemia, providing a much-needed option for patients grappling with this fast-growing blood cancer.

This dual approval of groundbreaking drugs marks a significant advancement in the treatment of blood cancer in Scotland, offering renewed hope and possibilities for patients in their fight against this devastating disease.