Breakthrough Cancer Treatment Approved for NHS Use
A revolutionary new treatment for myeloma, a type of blood cancer, has been approved for use on the NHS. The therapy, known as an antibody-drug-conjugate, was developed by GSK in the UK, with early research taking place in Stevenage and the first clinical trials in London.
According to a report by the BBC, this innovative treatment is being hailed as a game-changer in the fight against myeloma. The BBC reports that Prof Martin Kaiser, team leader in myeloma molecular therapy at the Institute of Cancer Research, has described these "smart drugs" as having a "really remarkable" difference in side effects compared to other treatments.
While myeloma is still considered an incurable cancer, Prof Kaiser believes that treatments like this are "an important step towards a functional cure". He predicts that long-term remission rates will exceed 50% within the next five years. The BBC quotes Prof Kaiser as saying: "These are very smart drugs… the difference in side effects compared to other drugs is really remarkable."
Antibody-drug-conjugates are being developed for a range of cancers, with the main limitation being the ability to design an antibody that can target the cancer alone. However, research is already underway for stomach and bowel cancer, and there is one treatment that can target certain types of breast cancer.
The approval of this treatment has been welcomed by charities and health officials. Shelagh McKinlay, from the charity Myeloma UK, told the BBC that the approval would "transform the lives of thousands" and that it was "fantastic to see the UK at the forefront of myeloma treatment". Health Minister Karin Smyth also praised the treatment, saying: "This ground-breaking therapy puts the NHS at the forefront of cancer innovation."
The development of this treatment is a testament to the UK’s strong research and development sector. The BBC reports that GSK’s work on this treatment is just one example of the innovative work being done in the UK to tackle cancer. As research continues to advance, it is hoped that treatments like this will become more widely available, offering new hope to patients and their families.
According to the BBC, this breakthrough treatment is just the beginning of a new era in cancer treatment. With ongoing research and development, it is likely that we will see even more innovative treatments emerge in the coming years. As Prof Kaiser noted, "these are very smart drugs" that have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of patients with myeloma and other types of cancer.
