Final guidance published today recommends lisocabtagene maraleucel (also known as liso-cel or Breyanzi, made by Bristol Myers Squibb) as a treatment option for people with large B-cell lymphoma whose cancer has not responded to initial treatment or has returned within 12 months.
This innovative therapy could benefit nearly 600 people annually in England, marking a significant advancement in lymphoma care.
For patients whose lymphoma has not responded to standard treatments, lisocabtagene maraleucel offers a promising new option. This first-of-its-kind therapy reprograms a patient's own immune cells to fight cancer. Clinical trials have shown it to be particularly effective for those whose cancer has either not responded to initial treatment or returned within 12 months.
The treatment involves collecting a patient's T-cells, which are then modified in a laboratory to specifically target and destroy cancer cells. These engineered cells are reinfused as a single treatment, with the potential to provide long-term benefits.
Director of Medicines Evaluation at NICE, Helen Knight, said:
“For people living with this aggressive blood cancer, and their families, today's announcement offers real hope. These aren't just statistics – each person who will benefit from this treatment is someone's parent, child, partner or friend.”
Patient experts from Blood Cancer UK and Lymphoma Action have welcomed the decision, noting that the treatment can be administered in an outpatient setting. This approach minimises costly hospital stays and potentially improves the quality of life for patients and their families.
Today's positive recommendation follows a consultation after an initial draft negative recommendation in October 2024. The decision was reversed after Bristol Myers Squibb offered an improved commercial arrangement to the NHS on the £297,000 list price per individual treatment.
The treatment will be available through routine commissioning, with NHS England required to make funding available within 90 days. In the interim, funding will be provided by the Cancer Drugs Fund.
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