New blood cancer treatment trialled in Wolverhampton approved for NHS use
Experts say the new drug regimen could help patients with multiple myeloma stay in remission for longer.
A new treatment for an incurable type of blood cancer that has been trialled in Wolverhampton has been approved for NHS use.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended that a new regimen of four drugs be used to treat patients with multiple myeloma.
The use of DRVD was evaluated in a trial by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and is suitable for adults with untreated multiple myeloma who are unsuitable for a stem cell transplant.
DRDV combines daratumumab (Darzalex®), bortezomib (Velcade®), lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and dexamethasone.
Experts said the quadruplet treatment could help patients stay in remission for longer.
Professor Supratik Basu, Haematology Consultant at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and a lead investigator on the CEPHEUS trial, said it could be the best option for multiple myeloma patients.
"The future is good for myeloma patients," he said.
"And having an active trial site in Wolverhampton, where patients can access the new drugs is highly encouraging and it gives me enormous satisfaction."
Professor Basu continued: "It seems since we have got this track record of delivering these big international studies in Wolverhampton, we have been asked to conduct three or four more important studies which I'm hoping will improve the outcome of these patients even further."
In the UK, there are around 6,200 new multiple myeloma cases diagnosed every year, and over 33,000 people are living with the condition.
According to the charity Myeloma UK, the latest CEPHEUS trial data shows that 68% of people on DVRD were still in remission after four and a half years.
Caroline Donoghue, Access Manager at Myeloma UK, said: “This is fantastic news and a great result for patients who felt let down by NICE’s initial decision not to approve DVRD.
"We have been working very hard to get NICE to reconsider and we’re delighted they’ve agreed to roll it out on the NHS.
"We know how devastating being diagnosed with myeloma is and new patients deserve the best possible treatment right from the off."
The charity said it will be pushing until NICE approves DVRD for all newly-diagnosed patients, regardless of whether they can have a stem cell transplant.