The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has officially recommended the life-extending treatment, Tisagenlecleucel (commercially known as Kymriah®), for routine use in the NHS. This innovative CAR-Therapy, designed for individuals up to 25 years old with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) that is resistant to other treatments.
Tisagenlecleucel stands out as a pioneering CAR-Therapy in cancer treatment. This treatment has shown considerable success in clinical trials and under the NHS’s Cancer Drugs Fund, where it has been accessible since December 2018. Tisagenlecleucel not only extends life expectancy but also enhances the quality of life, with a reported 72% overall survival rate at 24 months post-treatment.
Annually, around 300 young people are diagnosed with ALL in England, and this treatment provides a vital option for those who have exhausted other alternatives. The shift from the Cancer Drugs Fund to routine NHS availability marks a pivotal moment, demonstrating the treatment’s effectiveness and the potential to increase survival. In addition, the inclusion of a commercial agreement makes this treatment more accessible.
Undoubtedly, this announcement marks a critical development in cancer treatment options for patients. For Novartis, the manufacturer of Kymriah®, this approval secures a broader market for their product within the NHS. Moreover, underscores the value of the CDF as a pathway for introducing and evaluating new cancer treatments.
To explore more about how innovative therapies gain access and are implemented across markets, we invite you to reach out to one of our experts at Remap Consulting here.
Source:
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Children and young adults to benefit after NICE recommends personalised immunotherapy to treat blood cancer be made routinely available on the NHS. Accessed April 23, 2024. https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/children-and-young-adults-to-benefit-after-nice-recommends-personalised-immunotherapy-to-treat-blood-cancer-be-made-routinely-available-on-the-nhs