The NHS in England will be the first health system globally to offer a ‘trojan horse’ targeted treatment for blood cancer that could delay disease progression nearly three times longer than current options.
Belantamab mafodotin will be made available to around 1,500 patients a year with multiple myeloma – an incurable cancer of the bone marrow – following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
The treatment will be offered to patients whose cancer has relapsed or not responded to initial treatment with lenalidomide.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England’s national clinical director for cancer, said: “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.
“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.
“This treatment could be life-changing for many patients and their families, and that’s why it is so important that the NHS continues to secure quick access to the latest, innovative treatments like this, at affordable prices to the taxpayer.”
Belantamab mafodotin, partly developed in the UK, is an antibody-drug conjugate – a therapy that attaches to cancer cells and delivers a toxic molecule from within. Researchers have described it as a ‘trojan horse’ due to its targeted delivery method.
In clinical trials involving a broader group of patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant multiple myeloma, the combination of belantamab mafodotin, bortezomib and dexamethasone delayed disease progression for around three years, compared with just over one year for those treated with the widely-used drug daratumumab alongside the same two drugs.
Progression-free survival data for the specific group of patients covered by NICE’s recommendation is not publicly available.
NHS England is fast-tracking access to the treatment through immediate funding via the Cancer Drugs Fund. Eligible patients will receive infusions of belantamab mafodotin every three weeks, alongside bortezomib (injection) and dexamethasone (oral tablet).
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that often affects several areas of the body, including the spine, skull, pelvis and ribs. It is more common in men than women, in adults over 60, in people with a family history, and is twice as common in black populations compared with white and Asian populations.
While the disease cannot be cured, treatment focuses on delaying its progression and managing side effects. Relapse is common and can have a significant psychological impact on patients.
Each year, more than 6,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, and an estimated 33,000 people are currently living with the condition.
Health minister Karin Smyth said: “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.
“We’re determined to back scientific breakthroughs that deliver real results for patients – bringing the latest treatments from the lab to those who need them most.
“It’s another example of how we’re building an NHS fit for the future, one that embraces medical innovation to transform patient care.
Shelagh McKinlay, director of research and advocacy at blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, added: “It’s fantastic to see the UK at the forefront of myeloma treatment. NHS England has demonstrated that it is possible for myeloma patients to have world-first access to innovative drugs.
“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.”
