Bloodwise welcomes Ibrutinib and Brentuximab back onto the Cancer Drugs Fund
The blood cancer charity Bloodwise, which was formerly known as Leukaemia Lymphoma Research, welcomes NHS Englands announcement that two blood cancer treatments will continue to be available to NHS patients for four indications via the Cancer Drugs Fund.
The treatments were among seven drugs delisted from the CDF in September for 12 blood cancer indications, but have been readmitted following negotiations between NHS England and the drugs’ manufacturers.
Diana Jupp, Director of Patient Experience at Bloodwise said:
“This is terrific news for many blood cancer patients. There was complete dismay amongst clinicians and patients when these were initially delisted in September. We welcome the negotiations undertaken by NHS England and the drug manufacturers that will allow NHS patients to continue to access them.
“We now need to turn our attention to the remaining effective blood cancer drugs that are still unavailable for NHS patients– we hope that either through continued negotiations or through the new assessment process due to be launched next year, we can ensure blood cancer drugs have access to all effective treatments.”
The drug indications readmitted onto the CDF for blood cancers are:
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Ibrutinib for relapsed/refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia and for relapsed/refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma
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Brentuximab for refractory systemic anaplastic lymphoma and for relapsed or refractory CD30+ Hodgkin’s lymphoma
This marks a significant development for patients, with access to these medicines now secured for NHS patients. Ibrutinib and brentuximab are highly effective, and are regarded by the clinical community as the leading treatment option for these patient populations.
