New take at home drug recommended for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
NICE has recommended a new take at home tablet for some people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia whose disease has returned after treatment. The draft guidance could give patients greater choice and reduce the need for frequent hospital visits.
Around 200 people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) whose disease has returned after treatment are set to benefit from a new treatment option.
Our draft guidance recommends pirtobrutinib (also known as Jaypirca and made by Eli Lilly), for some adults with relapsed or refractory CLL.
CLL is the most common type of leukaemia in England. It usually develops slowly, but is a lifelong condition marked by repeated cycles of treatment, remission and relapse. Patient experts told the independent committee that living with CLL can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining, with ongoing uncertainty about when the disease will worsen again.
Patient and clinical experts valued that pirtobrutinib is taken as a tablet at home, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits and allowing people to maintain more independence in their daily lives. They also highlighted that the treatment could be especially beneficial for older people and for those with other health conditions, such as impaired kidney function, who may not be suitable for more intensive therapies.
Pirtobrutinib offers a new option for people at a potentially challenging point in their treatment where their cancer has stopped responding to existing therapies or if they cannot tolerate them.
Today’s draft recommendation is for people who have previously had a type of medicine called a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor and for who further BTK inhibitor treatment is not suitable.
This recommendation means that pirtobrutinib can offer some patients a further option that can delay their disease getting worse, while being taken at home and fitting more easily into their everyday life. Our aim is always to make sure that people can access treatments that offer real benefits, while representing a good use of NHS resources.
Helen continues, "Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a long-term condition that can place a huge burden on people and their families, both physically and emotionally. We heard how important it is for people to have effective treatments available when their disease relapses.
“Our aim is always to make sure that people can access treatments that offer real benefits, while representing a good use of NHS resources.”
Our draft recommendations are now open for public consultation until 5 pm on Monday, 11 May.