THREE new treatments for cancer have been approved for use by the NHS in Scotland.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) however said it could not approve a new treatment for patients with the lung condition chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because of a lack of evidence around its cost-effectiveness.
However, the SMC did approve the drug brentuximab vedotin, also known as Adcetris, to be used together with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for adult patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma – an uncommon cancer that develops in the lymphatic system.
SMC vice chair Graeme Bryson said the treatment could “help increase how long people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have before their cancer gets worse”.
Meanwhile, zanubrutinib, also known as Brukinsa, was accepted to treat adults with mantle cell lymphoma – a rare type of the blood cancer non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The SMC has also approved the drug ripretinib – also known as Qinlock – to treat adults with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours, which are a rare type of cancer of the digestive system.
In addition to these drugs it has agreed the NHS can use mirikizumab, also known as Omvoh, for adults with Crohn’s disease, a lifelong condition which is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
However, the SMC rejected the drug dupilumab, also known as Dupixent, as a treatment on the NHS for adults with COPD that is controlled on current standard treatments.
Bryson said: “The committee is pleased to be able to accept these new medicines for use by NHS Scotland.
“Brentuximab vedotin, used together with chemotherapy, could help increase how long people with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma have before their cancer gets worse.
“Ripretinib provides a fourth-line treatment for advanced gastro-intestinal stromal tumours where currently there is no standard treatment available.
“Zanubrutinib offers an additional oral targeted treatment option for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have already received one or more lines of treatment.
“Mirikizumab offers an additional treatment option for people with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease whose disease is not controlled on standard or biologic treatment.”
However he added: “The committee was unable to accept dupilumab for treating patients with COPD as the company’s evidence around the cost-effectiveness of the treatment was not sufficient. We would welcome a resubmission from the company.”
Joseph Carter, head of the charity Asthma + Lung UK Scotland, said: “If the cost effectiveness of dupilumab for use by NHS Scotland can be improved, we are hopeful that the Scottish Medicines Consortium will revisit its decision.
“With an estimated 241,000 people living with COPD in Scotland, there is hope that this drug could help guide research for other targeted therapies.
“More lung research is desperately needed to enable a breakthrough to help better control or even cure COPD.”
