NHS APPROVES TWO NEW DRUGS FOR RARE BLOOD CANCERS

NHS England has approved two new treatments for rare blood cancers affecting infants, young children and adults. Around 200 patients annually will have access to dabrafenib, a tablet designed to treat histiocytic neoplasms, and a combination drug therapy for certain cases of Hodgkin lymphoma. Both treatments have been added to the NHS formulary following clinical assessment of their safety and effectiveness.

Dabrafenib works by blocking proteins that enable cancer cells to proliferate, thereby slowing or halting disease progression. According to NHS England data, untreated histiocytic neoplasms result in death within one year for approximately 1 in 10 children with high-risk disease and within five years for around 7 in 10 adults. The tablet formulation allows patients to receive treatment at home rather than in hospital, reducing disruption to daily life. The second approved treatment combines brentuximab, vedotin and bendamustine for children aged 8 and above with Hodgkin lymphoma that has recurred or failed to respond to initial treatment. Hodgkin lymphoma affects approximately 1,800 people in England annually, with recorded data suggesting between 10 and 30 per cent of patients experience disease recurrence or initial treatment failure. The combination therapy targets cancer cells by binding to a protein on the cell surface and delivering a cancer-killing agent directly into the cell.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, stated that the approvals represent a significant development for patients with these conditions, particularly those seeking alternatives after standard treatments have proved ineffective. The new treatments align with NHS ambitions outlined in its 10 Year Cancer Plan to expand access to advanced therapies for rare cancers. NHS England confirmed its commitment to ensuring patients have access to safe and effective treatments capable of saving or transforming lives.