Latest news with #Cladribine
STV News
a day ago
- Health
- STV News
Treatments for cancer and multiple sclerosis accepted for use on NHS
Medicines to treat patients with multiple sclerosis and a rare type of cancer have been approved for use by the NHS in Scotland. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Selpercatinib, also known as Retsevmo, for treating patients aged 12 and older, with a rare type of medullary thyroid cancer that is advanced and caused by mutations in a gene called RET. The SMC has also has accepted Cladribine, also known as Mavenclad, for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults who have signs of active disease either through clinical signs or evidence of inflammation on scans. And Ruxolitinib, also known as Jakavi, has been accepted to treat patients, aged 12 and over, with acute graft versus host disease where corticosteroids have not been effective. Acute graft versus host disease happens when donor cells attack the body shortly after a transplant. However Durvalumab, also known as Imfinzi, was not recommended when used together with tremelimumab as a first-line treatment for adults with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of liver cancer when it is advanced or cannot be removed by surgery. SMC chair Dr Scott Muir said: 'The committee is pleased to be able to accept these new medicines for use by NHSScotland. 'Cladribine as a short course of oral tablets may be a more manageable treatment option for patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. 'Selpercatinib offers an oral targeted treatment for a small group of patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer, driven by a gene mutation. 'Ruxolitinib offers an oral treatment for graft versus host disease, a serious complication after a stem cell transplant. It is the only licensed treatment for use where corticosteroids have not been successful in controlling the disease. 'The committee was unable to accept durvalumab, used together with tremelimumab, for the treatment of adults with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. 'The company's evidence around the cost effectiveness of the treatment compared to currently available options was not sufficient. 'We would welcome a resubmission from the company addressing the issues we have raised.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS England first in Europe to roll out take-at-home pill for MS patients
Thousands of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in England are to become the first in Europe to benefit from a major roll out of an immunotherapy pill. Current treatments involve regular trips to hospital, drug infusions, frequent injections and extensive monitoring, which add to the burden on patients and healthcare systems. The new tablet, cladribine, can be swallowed at home, and needs to be taken only 20 times in the first two years of a four-year cycle. The regime consists of a maximum of 10 days of treatment in the first year and 10 days in the second; no additional treatment is needed in the next two years. Patients thinking about having children can also safely conceive in the third and fourth years of the treatment cycle. This is an important development, as MS is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 20s and 30s. The NHS in England is the first healthcare system in Europe to widely introduce the drug to patients with active relapsing-remitting MS after it received the go-ahead from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice). It was previously approved only for patients with more severe, highly active MS, but cladribine, made by Merck, will now be available to many more patients. MS is a debilitating neurological condition affecting the brain and spinal cord, causing severe pain, fatigue, cognitive issues and vision problems. More than 150,000 people in the UK live with the condition; when first told they have MS, about 85% are diagnosed with the relapsing-remitting type. As well as benefits for the patient, the rollout is expected to save thousands of clinical hours each year, freeing up NHS capacity by reducing the need for hospital appointments and time consuming treatments. Klaus Schmierer, professor of neurology at Queen Mary University and a consultant neurologist at Barts Health NHS trust, said: 'This Nice decision gives people with relapsing MS access to a disease-modifying immunotherapy that interferes very little with their daily lives. 'For many people with MS, effective immunotherapy comes with a substantial burden, such as frequent infusions at the hospital, or taking medication at home daily, which is both demanding in terms of consistency and a constant reminder of their chronic condition. These factors can interfere with work, relationships, and more generally a sense of normality. 'Cladribine's efficacy and unique dosing regimen enable people with relapsing MS to maintain their quality of life being able to largely 'forget' about their immunotherapy once the two short treatment-courses have been completed.' Prof James Palmer, medical director for specialised commissioning at NHS England, said: 'The NHS is proud to be the first healthcare system in Europe to roll out this innovative 'take at home' tablet widely for patients with active multiple sclerosis. 'Broadening access to cladribine means thousands more patients will benefit from managing their treatment at home rather than regularly attending hospital appointments – as well as giving women with MS who want to get pregnant more flexibility to do so around their treatment. 'This decision will also significantly free up clinical time, helping clinicians see more patients and boosting NHS productivity.' Laura Thomas, head of policy at the MS Society, welcomed the news, saying expanding choices for patients was 'vital'. 'We're so glad that more people with MS will now be able to choose an effective treatment which suits their lifestyle,' she added. Meanwhile, in another medical advance, an early study revealed an annual jab to protect against HIV 'shows potential'. Millions of people globally are at high risk of HIV and take daily pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) tablets to reduce their risk. But challenges with adherence and persistence have limited their overall effect. The new study, presented to the 2025 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, found that a yearly injection, lenacapavir, made by Gilead Sciences, was 'safe and well tolerated'. 'Yearly dosing of lenacapavir has the potential to further decrease current barriers to PrEP by increasing the uptake of, persistence on, and, therefore, scalability of PrEP,' experts wrote in The Lancet.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Take-at-home tablet for MS approved for wider NHS rollout
A take-at-home tablet for multiple sclerosis (MS) is set to be more broadly rolled out on the NHS, potentially benefiting thousands of patients in England. The move will also 'significantly free up clinical time' by reducing the need for hospital appointments, officials said. The health service is thought to be the first in Europe to widely rollout cladribine, also known as Mavenclad and made by Merck. It has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) for people with relapsing-remitting MS. This means they have periods where their symptoms get worse, followed by periods of recovery. Cladribine is a chemotherapy drug and kills certain white blood cells made by the immune system known as T and B cells. These cells normally attack viruses and bacteria, but in people with MS, they attack the covering around nerves in the brain and spinal cord known as the myelin sheath. Cladribine stops these cells from entering the brain or spinal cord and attacking the nerves there. It is taken for 20 days spread over four years, reducing the need for hospital visits and extensive monitoring. Cladribine was previously only recommended for patients with severe, highly active MS. The latest rollout is expected to benefit about 2,000 people over the first three years. Women with MS who want to conceive will also be able to safely do so. Professor James Palmer, medical director for specialised commissioning at NHS England, said: 'The NHS is proud to be the first healthcare system in Europe to roll out this innovative 'take at home' tablet widely for patients with active multiple sclerosis. 'Broadening access to cladribine means thousands more patients will benefit from managing their treatment at home rather than regularly attending hospital appointments – as well giving women with MS who want to get pregnant more flexibility to do so around their treatment. 'This decision will also significantly free up clinical time, helping clinicians see more patients and boosting NHS productivity.' MS Society"> Laura Thomas, head of policy at the MS Society, welcomed the news. She said: 'Over 150,000 people live with MS in the UK, and many of them rely on disease modifying therapies like cladribine to help reduce MS relapses, so expanding patient choice is vital. 'Cladribine is self-administered, so this decision could particularly benefit people who'd struggle to go into hospital regularly, like younger working-age adults. 'It will also benefit patients considering starting a family, as it's safe to get pregnant six months after the final course of treatment – which is less restrictive than many other DMT options. 'We're so glad that more people with MS will now be able to choose an effective treatment which suits their lifestyle.' Health minister Ashley Dalton added: 'We know that patients with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis face immense challenges, so I am delighted that this decision means more patients will get access to a treatment that will greatly improve their quality of life. 'By expanding access to medicines that can be taken at home, we can shift care out of hospitals and into the community, giving patients more freedom and saving the NHS money. 'This Government is committed to backing researchers and our life sciences sector to develop innovative therapies, so that NHS patients are among the first to benefit from cutting-edge healthcare.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
NHS to offer take-at-home tablet for MS
Thousands of NHS patients in England with multiple sclerosis (MS) will soon be offered a "take at home" tablet to manage their condition, sparing them hospital visits for injections or infusions. Cladribine can help people with the active relapsing-remitting version of the disease, as well as more severe, highly active MS, for which it is already used, says drug advisory body NICE. Broadening access to the drug should give more patients freedom from hospital and free up clinic time, say experts. The NHS is the first healthcare system in Europe to roll out the treatment. NICE is expected to issue final guidance for England in April, with access in Wales and Northern Ireland likely to follow. Scotland is also considering it. There are more than 150,000 people living with MS - a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord - in the UK. Although it cannot currently be cured, treatment can slow the disease and ease symptoms. Trials show cladribine can reduce the number and severity of relapses. The drug targets certain immune cells involved in inflammation and myelin damage in MS. It is given in two treatment courses, 12 months apart, which would mean patients would take about 20 tablets at home. The list price is around £2,000 per tablet, but it is not clear how much the NHS is paying since it can negotiate discounts with drug companies. It is estimated about 2,000 patients could be offered the treatment over the first three years. Clare Elgar, 37, from Southampton, has taken cladribine for her relapsing MS, which was diagnosed in January 2021 after experiencing loss of function in her right arm and numbness across her face. Clare says: "Being able to take the treatment at home meant I could maintain my day-to-day routine and not have to travel to hospital. I'm thrilled that the new criteria will now give others like me the opportunity to benefit from this life-changing medication." Laura Thomas, head of policy at the MS Society, said: "This decision could particularly benefit people who'd struggle to go into hospital regularly, like younger working-age adults." It will also benefit patients considering starting a family, as it's safe to get pregnant six months after the final course of treatment - which is less restrictive than many other options - according to Ms Thomas. "We're so glad that more people with MS will now be able to choose an effective treatment which suits their lifestyle."
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Multiple Sclerosis: NHS to offer take-at-home tablet
Thousands of NHS patients in England with multiple sclerosis (MS) will soon be offered a "take at home" tablet to manage their condition, sparing them hospital visits for injections or infusions. Cladribine can help people with the active relapsing-remitting version of the disease, as well as more severe, highly active MS, for which it is already used, says drug advisory body NICE. Broadening access to the drug should give more patients freedom from hospital and free up clinic time, say experts. The NHS is the first healthcare system in Europe to roll out the treatment. NICE is expected to issue final guidance for England in April, with access in Wales and Northern Ireland likely to follow. Scotland is also considering are more than 150,000 people living with MS - a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord - in the UK. Although it cannot currently be cured, treatment can slow the disease and ease show cladribine can reduce the number and severity of relapses. The drug targets certain immune cells involved in inflammation and myelin damage in is given in two treatment courses, 12 months apart, which would mean patients would take about 20 tablets at home. The list price is around £2,000 per tablet, but it is not clear how much the NHS is paying since it can negotiate discounts with drug companies. It is estimated about 2,000 patients could be offered the treatment over the first three years. Clare Elgar, 37, from Southampton, has taken cladribine for her relapsing MS, which was diagnosed in January 2021 after experiencing loss of function in her right arm and numbness across her face. Clare says: "Being able to take the treatment at home meant I could maintain my day-to-day routine and not have to travel to hospital. I'm thrilled that the new criteria will now give others like me the opportunity to benefit from this life-changing medication."Laura Thomas, head of policy at the MS Society, said: "This decision could particularly benefit people who'd struggle to go into hospital regularly, like younger working-age adults."It will also benefit patients considering starting a family, as it's safe to get pregnant six months after the final course of treatment - which is less restrictive than many other options - according to Ms Thomas. "We're so glad that more people with MS will now be able to choose an effective treatment which suits their lifestyle."
