In world's first, trojan horse drug to treat blood cancer patients: What is it?
Thousands of blood cancer patients in England are set to benefit from a groundbreaking treatment that targets and destroys cancer cells from within, earning it the nickname of a "trojan horse" drug.In world's first, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) - the country's healthcare system - will offer the treatment, belantamab mafodotin, to about 1,500 people each year battling multiple myeloma, an aggressive and currently incurable form of blood cancer.advertisementThe decision came after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved the drug in new guidance issued on Friday. The approval marks a step forward in cancer care, especially for patients whose disease has progressed despite standard treatment.
"Myeloma is an aggressive type of blood cancer, but we have seen a steady improvement in the outlook for patients over recent years as we have introduced new targeted therapies. I am delighted that patients in England will be the first to benefit from this new treatment, which has the potential to keep cancer at bay for years longer," said Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for cancer.WHAT IS THE "TROJAN HORSE" DRUG?Belantamab mafodotin, also marketed as Blenrep, is a form of targeted antibody therapy.Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects both healthy and cancerous cells, this drug is designed to find, enter, and destroy only the cancer cells.advertisementIt works much like the ancient tale of the trojan horse. The drug "sneaks" into the cancer cell by attaching to a specific protein found on the surface. Once inside, it releases a powerful toxic substance that kills the cell from within, without harming surrounding healthy tissue.Administered through an infusion every three weeks alongside other cancer medications, belantamab mafodotin has shown promising results in trials.When combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone, it delayed cancer progression by an average of three years. In contrast, patients taking commonly used treatments like daratumumab typically experienced disease progression within a year.IS IT A GAME CHANGER FOR PATIENTS?For people like Paul Silvester, a 60-year-old from Sheffield diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2023, the new drug has been life-changing.'I feel like this treatment has brought the party balloons back in the house. It has been amazing – within the first two or three weeks, after the first dose, I was in remission," he said.Silvester received the drug through an early access programme at Royal Hallamshire Hospital after his initial treatment failed to stop the cancer.Doctors believe the therapy is particularly promising for patients who have exhausted other treatment options. It will be offered to those whose disease has progressed or failed to respond to first-line therapies.advertisementTHE FUTURE OF BLOOD CANCER TREATMENTPatient advocacy groups have also welcomed the development. Shelagh McKinlay, Director of Research and Advocacy at Myeloma UK, said the approval was a major win.'We have been working very hard for the last year to get this treatment approved and we know it will transform the lives of thousands of people with myeloma,' she said.Health Minister Karin Smyth, added that by embracing cutting-edge 'trojan horse' technology, the NHS is offering new hope to blood cancer patients across the country.As research continues and more data emerges, belantamab mafodotin may be the hold the future in changing how blood cancers like myeloma are treated in years to come.Must Watch
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In world's first, trojan horse drug to treat blood cancer patients: What is it?
Thousands of blood cancer patients in England are set to benefit from a groundbreaking treatment that targets and destroys cancer cells from within, earning it the nickname of a "trojan horse" world's first, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) - the country's healthcare system - will offer the treatment, belantamab mafodotin, to about 1,500 people each year battling multiple myeloma, an aggressive and currently incurable form of blood decision came after the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved the drug in new guidance issued on Friday. The approval marks a step forward in cancer care, especially for patients whose disease has progressed despite standard treatment. "Myeloma is an aggressive type of blood cancer, but we have seen a steady improvement in the outlook for patients over recent years as we have introduced new targeted therapies. I am delighted that patients in England will be the first to benefit from this new treatment, which has the potential to keep cancer at bay for years longer," said Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for IS THE "TROJAN HORSE" DRUG?Belantamab mafodotin, also marketed as Blenrep, is a form of targeted antibody traditional chemotherapy, which affects both healthy and cancerous cells, this drug is designed to find, enter, and destroy only the cancer works much like the ancient tale of the trojan horse. The drug "sneaks" into the cancer cell by attaching to a specific protein found on the surface. Once inside, it releases a powerful toxic substance that kills the cell from within, without harming surrounding healthy through an infusion every three weeks alongside other cancer medications, belantamab mafodotin has shown promising results in combined with bortezomib and dexamethasone, it delayed cancer progression by an average of three years. In contrast, patients taking commonly used treatments like daratumumab typically experienced disease progression within a IT A GAME CHANGER FOR PATIENTS?For people like Paul Silvester, a 60-year-old from Sheffield diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2023, the new drug has been life-changing.'I feel like this treatment has brought the party balloons back in the house. It has been amazing – within the first two or three weeks, after the first dose, I was in remission," he received the drug through an early access programme at Royal Hallamshire Hospital after his initial treatment failed to stop the believe the therapy is particularly promising for patients who have exhausted other treatment options. It will be offered to those whose disease has progressed or failed to respond to first-line FUTURE OF BLOOD CANCER TREATMENTPatient advocacy groups have also welcomed the development. Shelagh McKinlay, Director of Research and Advocacy at Myeloma UK, said the approval was a major win.'We have been working very hard for the last year to get this treatment approved and we know it will transform the lives of thousands of people with myeloma,' she Minister Karin Smyth, added that by embracing cutting-edge 'trojan horse' technology, the NHS is offering new hope to blood cancer patients across the research continues and more data emerges, belantamab mafodotin may be the hold the future in changing how blood cancers like myeloma are treated in years to Watch
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