New Technology appraisal guidance [TA526] Arsenic trioxide for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA526] Arsenic trioxide for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta526

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA524] Brentuximab vedotin for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma

New Technology appraisal guidance [TA524] Brentuximab vedotin for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma
Published date: 13 June 2018  Next review: June 2021


Evidence-based recommendations on brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) for treating CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma in adults.
For full guidance https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta524

Enasidenib for Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) with an Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) Mutation

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a type of cancer that causes the bone marrow to produce lots of immature white blood cells. It is most common in people aged 60 years and over. Symptoms of AML may include weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, recurrent infections, prolonged bleeding, loss in appetite and unintended weight loss. Most patients with AML are treated with standard
chemotherapy.


http://www.io.nihr.ac.uk/report/enasidenib-for-relapsed-or-refractory-acute-myeloid-leukaemia-aml-with-an-isocitrate-dehydrogenase-2-idh2-mutation/


From the NIHR Innovation centre

Draft AAGBI guideline Cell salvage for peri-operative blood conservation

A draft guideline on cell salvage for peri-operative blood conservation is in its final draft stage and comments are invited from members. Please read the draft and submit any comments to workingparties@aagbi.org. All comments submitted will be considered before a final version is brought before the AAGBI Board for approval. The closing date for comment submission is 5pm on Friday 12 January 2018.

QuantiFERON®: test guidelines and order form

Guidelines from Public Health England on blood collection, storage and transportation. Includes order form for blood collection tubes.

Sickle cell and thalassaemia screening: handbook for laboratories

These documents from Public Health England set out policy and standards for laboratories working with the sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening programme.  They have recently been updated.

Lenalidomide (Revlimid) for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma – First Line

Lenalidomide in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone is being developed for the treatment of adult patients with MM. While each of these drugs are already approved for treating a range of malignant blood diseases, the combination of the three drugs has shown significant potential particularly for the treatment of newly diagnosed MM. If approved, it will offer an additional treatment option for adult patients whether or not they are eligible or ineligible for bone marrow transplant.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Venetoclax in Combination with Obinutuzumab for the Treatment of Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia – First Line

Venetoclax is a drug that attaches to a protein in the body called Bcl-2. This protein presents in high amounts in CLL cancer cells, where it helps the cancer cells survive for longer in the body and makes them resistant to cancer medicines. Venetoclax causes the death of cancer cells and thereby slows the progression of the disease. In combination with obinutuzumab the body’s immune system gets strengthened. If licenced, venetoclax with obinutuzumab will offer an additional treatment option for patients with previously untreated CLL.
From the NIHR Innovation Observatory.

ALXN 1210 for Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria

ALXN1210 is an antibody under development that prevents the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs). The drug is administered by intravenous injection that requires fewer dosing regimen compared to current treatment option. If ALXN1210 is licensed for use in the UK, it could represent an additional treatment option for patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Voxelotor for Sickle Cell Disease

Voxelotor is as an oral, once-daily therapy that is being developed for treatment of SCD. It is designed to work by helping haemoglobin hold onto more oxygen as the red blood cells travel through the body. This keeps red blood cells in their normal shape and helps stop sickling. As there is a desperate need for new treatments for SCD, voxelotor, if licensed, will offer a new treatment option for patients with SCD.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Guadecitabine for Treatment of Naïve Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

The most common treatment option for AML is chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells. Guadecitabine is a new treatment being developed for patients who have not received prior treatment (treatment naïve) and are ineligible to undergo intensive chemotherapy. If licenced, guadecitabine would offer a new treatment option for patients that cannot tolerate the standard of care chemotherapy treatments.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Ibrutinib for treating Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia [TA491]

New technology appraisal guidance from NICE:

Evidence-based recommendations on ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for treating Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia in adults after at least 1 previous therapy.

Ibrutinib is recommended for use in the Cancer Drugs Fund as an option for treating Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia in adults who have had at least 1 prior therapy, only if the conditions in the managed access agreement for ibrutinib are followed.

Venetoclax for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia [TA487]

New technology appraisal guidance from NICE:

Evidence-based recommendations on venetoclax (Venclyxto) for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in adults.

Venetoclax is recommended for use within the Cancer Drugs Fund, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, that is, in adults:

• with a 17p deletion or TP53 mutation and when a B‑cell receptor pathway inhibitor is unsuitable, or whose disease has progressed after a B‑cell receptor pathway inhibitor or
• without a 17p deletion or TP53 mutation, and whose disease has progressed after both chemo‑immunotherapy and a B‑cell receptor pathway inhibitor and
• only if the conditions in the managed access agreement are followed.

New rules on blood donation

Changes to the rules on blood donation in England came into force on 28 November. The new rules will allow more people to donate blood, without affecting the safety of the blood supply.

Before every donation, all donors must complete a Donor Health Check and have a private health screening where they may be asked confidential questions based on their completed form.

Subject to meeting the other donation rules, the following groups will now be able to donate after 3 months have passed since the last sexual activity:

• men who have had sex with another man
• commercial sex workers
• people who have had sex with a partner at high risk of having a sexually transmitted infection

Sickle cell and thalassaemia screening: handbook for laboratories

These documents from Public Health England set out policy and standards for laboratories working with the sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening programme.

Ibrutinib in combination with obinutuzumab for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma in elderly – first line

The combination of ibrutinib (oral capsules) and obinutuzumab (intravenous injection) is being developed as a new treatment option for CLL/SLL in elderly patients. Both drugs act in different unique ways to improve the body’s natural defence to fight the cancer cells and their combined effect may significantly reduce symptoms of the disease and increase survival.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

NEOD001 for amyloid light-chain (AL) amyloidosis

Current treatments for AL amyloidosis target the plasma cells in the bone marrow, stopping the production of amyloid. NEOD001 has the potential to target amyloid protein directly in the bloodstream as well as within the organs. It would make the amyloid protein that is in the bloodstream ineffective, and would also clear amyloid protein deposits in tissues, nerves and organs. This has the potential to be the first treatment for AL amyloidosis that could restore organ function.

From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Venetoclax for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia [TA487]

New: Technology appraisal guidance from NICE:

Evidence-based recommendations on venetoclax (Venclyxto) for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in adults.

Venetoclax is recommended for use within the Cancer Drugs Fund, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, that is, in adults:

• with a 17p deletion or TP53 mutation and when a B‑cell receptor pathway inhibitor is unsuitable, or whose disease has progressed after a B‑cell receptor pathway inhibitor or
• without a 17p deletion or TP53 mutation, and whose disease has progressed after both chemo‑immunotherapy and a B‑cell receptor pathway inhibitor and
• only if the conditions in the managed access agreement are followed.

This recommendation is not intended to affect treatment with venetoclax that was started in the NHS before this guidance was published. People having treatment outside this recommendation may continue without change to the funding arrangements in place for them before this guidance was published, until they and their NHS clinician consider it appropriate to stop.

Pomalidomide (Imnovid) with bortezomib and dexamethasone for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma‐ second line and beyond

Pomalidomide with dexamethasone is currently approved for use in the UK to treat adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior treatment regimens, including both lenalidomide and bortezomib, and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy. If approved, the combination of pomalidomide with bortezomib and dexamethasone will offer a treatment option for patients who have been previously exposed to lenalidomide (including refractory to lenalidomide) ‐ a type of patients for which the outcomes with other novel regimens are uncertain.


From the NIHR Innovation Observatory

Sickle cell and thalassaemia screening: care pathway

This document from Public Health England describes the sickle cell and thalassamia (SCT) screening pathways.

See also Sickle cell and thalassaemia screening: handbook for laboratories