Breakthrough Cancer Treatment to be Offered to Thousands of Patients in England
A pioneering "Trojan horse" drug that targets and destroys cancer cells will be offered to thousands of patients in England with blood cancer, making them the first in the world to benefit from this treatment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has given the green light to belantamab mafodotin, a targeted therapy that can halt the advance of multiple myeloma for three times as long as standard treatments.
According to The Guardian, the drug, also known as Blenrep and made by GlaxoSmithKline, will be offered to patients whose cancer has progressed or failed to respond to another first-line treatment. Prof Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, described the treatment as "life-changing" for patients and their families. "Myeloma is an aggressive type of blood cancer, but we have seen a steady improvement in the outlook for patients over recent years as we have introduced new targeted therapies," he said. "I am delighted that patients in England will be the first to benefit from this new treatment, which has the potential to keep cancer at bay for years longer, giving people the chance of more precious time with friends and family."
The treatment, which is given as an infusion every three weeks with other cancer drugs, works by targeting and attaching to cancer cells and then unleashing a high concentration of a lethal molecule to destroy the cell from inside. This "Trojan horse" approach has shown significant promise in clinical trials, with results suggesting that the treatment, in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, delays progression of the disease by an average of three years, compared with one year for patients taking the commonly used drug daratumumab along with the other treatments.
Shelagh McKinlay, the director of research and advocacy at the blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, welcomed the news, saying it was "fantastic" to see the NHS become the first healthcare system in the world to roll out the drug. "We have been working very hard for the last year to get this treatment approved and we know it will transform the lives of thousands of people with myeloma," she said. Paul Silvester, 60, from Sheffield, is one patient who has already benefited from the treatment. After being diagnosed with myeloma in 2023, he was given belantamab mafodotin through an early access programme at the Royal Hallamshire hospital. "I feel like this treatment has brought the party balloons back in the house. It has been amazing – within the first two or three weeks, after the first dose, I was in remission," he said.
The drug is expected to benefit around 1,500 patients a year in England with multiple myeloma, an incurable cancer of the bone marrow. Health officials say the treatment will be offered to patients whose cancer has progressed or failed to respond to another first-line treatment. Helen Knight, the director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: "This recommendation demonstrates our commitment to getting the best care to patients fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer."
The health minister Karin Smyth also welcomed the news, saying: "This groundbreaking therapy puts the NHS at the forefront of cancer innovation. By harnessing cutting-edge ‘Trojan horse’ technology, we’re offering new hope to blood cancer patients across the country." As The Guardian reports, the NHS is set to become the first healthcare system in the world to offer this treatment, marking a significant milestone in the fight against cancer.
The approval of belantamab mafodotin is a significant development in the treatment of multiple myeloma, and patients in England will be the first to benefit from this pioneering treatment. As the NHS continues to innovate and improve cancer care, patients and families affected by this disease will be watching with hope and anticipation. According to The Guardian, the introduction of this treatment is a testament to the NHS’s commitment to providing the best possible care for patients, and it is expected to have a significant impact on the lives of thousands of people with myeloma.
The data behind this treatment shows a marked improvement over existing therapies. In trials, it was shown that treatment in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone delayed progression of the disease by an average of three years. In comparison, patients taking the commonly used drug daratumumab, along with the other treatments, only averaged a one-year delay in progression.
This pioneering therapy puts England at the forefront of cancer innovation and offers new hope to blood cancer patients across the country. With 1,500 patients set to benefit from the treatment each year, it is clear that this approval marks a significant milestone in the fight against cancer.
