The first new mesothelioma treatment to be approved in nearly 15 years will be made available for hundreds of patients with aggressive respiratory cancer, the NHS announced today.
The life extending treatment, which has been approved for use today by NICE after the NHS struck a new commercial deal for the medicines, will combine nivolumab and ipilimumab and will be offered on the NHS immediately, benefitting around 1,000 patients in England each year.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells surrounding the lungs that affects the respiratory system. Most cases are linked to occupational exposure to the material asbestos, with first symptoms normally appearing several decades after exposure.
The UK has the highest prevalence of mesothelioma cases in the World, with around 2,700 people diagnosed with the cancer each year – the majority of these were exposed to asbestos prior to the banning of the material in 1999.
The combination is the first immunotherapy treatment for untreated mesothelioma, providing a more effective alternative to chemotherapy – with clinical trials showing 8% more people surviving with mesothelioma after three years, and 13% more showing their cancer had stopped progressing in the same time period.
The drugs will be delivered intravenously to patients in 30-minute sessions every three weeks (nivolumab) and every six weeks (ipillmumab) for up to two years.
Professor Peter Johnson, National Clinical Director for Cancer for the NHS in England said:”The NHS is delighted that this new drug combination will now be available for patients with this aggressive type of cancer, giving them more precious time with their families and friends.
“We know that unfortunately many people are likely to develop mesothelioma as the result of previous exposure to asbestos, but up to now we have had limited options for their treatment. This makes these new immunotherapy drugs even more vital and reinforces our commitment to using the latest treatments to improve the life chances of our patients.
