The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended elranatamab for advanced multiple myeloma for over 700 patients in England.
Elranatamab, also known as Elrexfio and produced by Pfizer, is recommended in draft guidance for the Cancer Drugs Fund.
It is recommended in the final draft guidance for patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who have undergone at least three treatment lines, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 antibody.
This treatment is for those whose cancer has returned after multiple treatments. Further evidence of its effectiveness is still being collected.
Multiple myeloma is a progressive and incurable form of blood cancer affecting the bone marrow, impacting quality of life and life expectancy.
NICE’s independent appraisal committee recognised the severity of this condition.
According to NICE, clinical trials indicate that elranatamab may prolong the time before deterioration, but more evidence is needed to confirm its effect on overall survival.
NICE medicines evaluation director Helen Knight said: “Multiple myeloma is a difficult to treat, rare and devastating form of cancer which can be debilitating, painful and has substantial impact on quality of life.
“There are limited treatment options so I know this drug will be welcomed by patients. This is the latest treatment NICE has recommended for multiple myeloma, with three other drugs also recommended in 2024.
“Its use through the Cancer Drugs Fund will give people access to this promising new fourth-line treatment while longer-term data on its use is collected to establish whether it is clinically and cost-effective.”
Elranatamab is a targeted therapy administered via injection into the abdomen or thigh.
It binds to specific multiple myeloma cells and T-cells, helping the immune system eliminate cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
Draft guidance previously recommended Elrexfio with managed access for adults after three or more treatment lines, specifically if pomalidomide plus dexamethasone would otherwise be considered.
The company presented a new analysis showing that elranatamab is cost-effective compared to two other treatments, leading the committee to lift previous restrictions.
A confidential commercial arrangement allows the NHS to access the targeted therapy at a discounted rate.
Earlier this month, the UK’s non-departmental public body recommended using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to help doctors detect broken bones on X-rays.
