Drug hope for blood cancer patients

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Revlimid (lenalidomide) is a once-a-day pill that can be taken at home by patients with multiple myeloma.

Data published in 2007 in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that almost two out of three patients taking Revlimid plus another drug, dexamethasone, saw a substantial reduction or disappearance in the signs and symptoms of their cancer.

The medicine is designed to keep multiple myeloma, which is incurable, under control and provide patients with precious extra months of life.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has overturned its own preliminary recommendation and approved Revlimid in combination with dexamethasone for patients who have already tried two or more other therapies. The Nice guidance is open to consultation.

It comes after the drug maker, Celgene, proposed a cost-sharing scheme whereby the NHS funds the drug for the first two years and any further costs are met by the manufacturer.

According to Celgene, clinical trials show that patients gain almost three extra years of life when treated with Revlimid compared with the current standard of care.

Almost 3,800 people are newly-diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the UK each year and more than 2,400 die from it annually.

Rachel Rowson, policy manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: "We are delighted that the manufacturer of Revlimid has decided to put patients before costs and will be making this treatment more affordable to the NHS. Revlimid can give some myeloma patients extra time which can be extremely valuable to them and their families."

Andrew Robertson, Celgene's general manager for the UK and Ireland, said: "We understand that time is a precious commodity for patients with multiple myeloma and we are committed to ensuring that the Revlimid treatment continuation scheme is successfully implemented so that all patients who can benefit will have rapid and sustained access to treatment."