Brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, dacarbazine and vinblastine is recommended, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for untreated stage 3 or 4 CD30‑positive Hodgkin lymphoma in adults. It can only be used if the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement.
Why the committee made this recommendation
Untreated stage 3 or 4 CD30‑positive Hodgkin lymphoma is usually treated with a chemotherapy regimen. This is usually doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine (ABVD). Bleomycin is sometimes removed because of its toxic effects for some people.
Evidence from a clinical trial shows that brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, dacarbazine and vinblastine (brentuximab combination) could increase how long people have before their cancer gets worse and how long they live compared with ABVD.
The cost-effectiveness estimates are within the range that NICE considers an acceptable use of NHS resources. So, brentuximab combination is recommended.