How are you taking part in this consultation?

You will not be able to change how you comment later.

You must be signed in to answer questions

  • Question on Consultation

    Has all of the relevant evidence been taken into account?

  • Question on Consultation

    Are the summaries of clinical and resource savings reasonable interpretations of the evidence?

  • Question on Consultation

    Are the recommendations sound and a suitable basis for guidance to the NHS?

  • Question on Consultation

    Are there any aspects of the recommendations that need particular consideration to ensure we avoid unlawful discrimination against any group of people on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity?
The content on this page is not current guidance and is only for the purposes of the consultation process.

Polatuzumab vedotin with rituximab and bendamustine for treating relapsed or refractory diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma

Closed for comments This consultation ended on at   Request commenting lead permission

1 Recommendations

1.1 Polatuzumab vedotin with rituximab and bendamustine is not recommended, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for treating relapsed or refractory diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma in adults who cannot have a haematopoietic stem cell transplant.

1.2 This recommendation is not intended to affect treatment with polatuzumab vedotin with rituximab and bendamustine 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.

Why the committee made these recommendations

There is no standard treatment for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma in people who cannot have a haematopoietic stem cell transplant. They could be offered rituximab with bendamustine, although this is not standard care in the NHS. Clinical evidence shows that people having polatuzumab vedotin plus rituximab and bendamustine have more time before their disease gets worse than people having rituximab and bendamustine alone. The evidence also suggests that they live longer, but it is not known by how much because the final data from the trial are not available yet.

The cost-effectiveness estimates for polatuzumab vedotin with rituximab and bendamustine are very uncertain because of limitations in the data and methods. It is considered a life-extending treatment at the end of life, but the cost-effectiveness estimates are too uncertain. Therefore, it cannot be recommended for routine use in the NHS or for use in the Cancer Drugs Fund.