Yescarta has been recommended for adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after one treatment and is currently indicated as the standard of care after two or more systemic therapies.
Tecartu is recommended for treating adults aged 26 years and above with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are the current standard of care, and
Tecartus is now added as another option. The clinical evidence suggests that the administration of Tecartus may extend patients' lives or at least prolong the time until relapse. NICE estimates that almost 90 patients will be eligible for treatment with Tecartus.
The decision to fund Keytruda for advanced cervical cancer was made after the drug was reviewed by the UK cost watchdog, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. NICE concluded that the drug was clinically effective and provided value for money but noted that more data was needed to determine its long-term effectiveness.
The availability of Keytruda through the Cancer Drugs Fund is good news for patients with advanced cervical cancer, as it means that they now have access to a treatment that could potentially extend their lives.
Keytruda works by blocking a protein called PD-1, which helps cancer cells avoid detection by the immune system.
It is estimated that nearly 400 patients are eligible for treatment with Keytruda.
The final draft guidance from NICE recommends using Lynparza (olaparib) for treating early breast cancer and metastatic prostate cancer after new commercial deals have been made.
After negotiations with AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Lynparza (olaparib), NICE has updated its guidance to recommend the drug for certain breast and prostate cancer patients. Olaparib is a PARP inhibitor that prevents DNA from repairing itself, leading to the death of cancer cells.
Also read: 2022 FDA Drug Approvals
The guidance recommends olaparib for use in certain patients with early-stage breast cancer that is HER2 negative and have mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 following treatment with chemotherapy and surgery. It is also recommended for use in certain patients with metastatic prostate cancer previously treated and with BRCA mutations.
These recommendations were made after new commercial deals were reached between the pharmaceutical company and the National Health Service (NHS). The latest deals ensure that the drug is available to patients at a lower cost than before.
NICE hoped that the availability of the drug would improve outcomes for patients with these types of cancer and help to extend their lives.
NICE has published the guidance recommending Wegovy (semaglutide) for treating adults for weight management, in addition to a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity. It is recommended for only two years and has at least one weight-related co-morbidity. NICE recommended stopping semaglutide if weight was reduced by 5% versus baseline.