National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends lenalidomide as a maintenance therapy for people with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who have undergone a stem cell transplant

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends lenalidomide as a maintenance therapy for people with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma who have undergone a stem cell transplant

• Approximately 1150 people in England with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma will now have NHS access to lenalidomide as a maintenance therapy,[1]^,[2] which aims to lengthen the period of remission following an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT)[*]
• Every year approximately 5,800 people are diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer, in the UK – an average of 16 people a day.[iii]

Uxbridge, UK, 27^th January 2021: Celgene, a Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) company, today announces that NICE has issued a Final Appraisal Document (FAD) recommending REVLIMID^®▼ (lenalidomide) as maintenance treatment after an ASCT for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma in adults.[iv] From today, approximately 1150 eligible patients in England will have immediate access to lenalidomide as a treatment option, with interim funding provided via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) before transferring to baseline commissioning. Lenalidomide is the first treatment to be made available on the NHS in this setting and provides an alternative to the standard ‘watch-and-wait’ approach, allowing patients to receive active treatment to keep their cancer in remission.

Graham Jackson, Professor of Clinical Haematology at Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust said: “Multiple myeloma is a relapsing remitting disease where the goal of treatment is to ensure long periods of remission and a good quality of life. Maintenance therapy is integral to achieving this, particularly for newly diagnosed patients who have received a stem cell transplant. Having lenalidomide within our treatment armoury on the NHS will transform the way we manage the early stages of multiple myeloma. In clinical studies maintenance therapy has been shown to almost double the initial period of remission for this group of patients, so it is fantastic to be able to offer active treatment which can help to keep the cancer at bay.”

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects the production of plasma cells in the bone marrow and in turn impacts the body’s immune system.[v] It is characterised by a ‘relapsing-remitting’ pattern, which means that the disease goes through periods where the cancer is active and needs treatment, followed by periods where it is under control.[vi] Each time the cancer relapses, the length of time spent in remission shortens.[vii] The objective of maintenance therapy is to control the cancer during the period of remission and delay relapse of the disease.[viii]

Laura Kerby, Chief Executive of Myeloma UK said: “We are delighted with this outcome. Patients who receive lenalidomide maintenance after high-dose therapy and stem cell transplant have a significant increase in overall survival, so the decision to make this available through the NHS is fantastic news.”

Across the UK, around 1,500 newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients undergo an ASCT each year,^1,2 and most of them will eventually relapse.[ix] This first remission is a critical period for people with multiple myeloma, as it can be an indicator of the overall survival of the disease – and it has been shown that effective maintenance therapy could be essential to long-term survival.[x]

Lynelle Hoch, General Manager at Bristol Myers Squibb UK & Ireland commented: “Today’s announcement marks an important milestone for those living with multiple myeloma, with lenalidomide being the first maintenance treatment option to be made accessible to eligible patients in England. We are grateful for the continued collaboration with NICE, healthcare professionals and Myeloma UK to ensure patients can benefit from lenalidomide in this setting.”

Following the publication of this guidance, the NHS in Wales is expected to provide funding and resources for lenalidomide in this setting within two months. The treatment is already available on the NHS in Scotland and in Northern Ireland.[xi]^,[xii]