NICE approves CAR-T therapy Kymriah® for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in adults
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved Novartis’ CAR-T therapy Kymriah® (tisagenlecleucel) for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in adults, following a commercial agreement with NHS England.
“Tisagenlecleucel has the potential to transform cancer treatment in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Although the follow-up period of the pivotal JULIET trial is still relatively short, the results are nonetheless impressive” explained Adrian Bloor (The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK).
The decision from NICE was based on the results of the ongoing pivotal JULIET trial for tisagenlecleucel, which most recently demonstrated median probabilities of 64% being relapse-free and 43% overall survival at 18 months in patients with relapsed/refractory disease. The median duration of response has still not been reached.
Related news:
- JULIET CAR-T therapy trial yields high rates of remission for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- NHS England strikes deal for Yescarta® in a new European first
- NICE rejects Kymriah® for adults with lymphoma
“We’re very pleased that this ground-breaking CAR-T cell therapy will now be available on the NHS for some people with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This is really good news for people affected by this type of lymphoma who, until now, have faced limited treatment options. The news offers patients and their families faced with a poor prognosis a more hopeful outlook” commented Ropinder Gill, Chief Executive of Lymphoma Action (UK).
