Why did NICE withdraw the Tecartus cancer treatment?

NICE recommended against the continued rollout of Tecartus because the treatment did not work as well in clinical practice as it did in trials, with median survival of 2.5 years in NHS patients compared to four years in original trials.

What is Tecartus and who does it help?

Tecartus, also known as brexu-cel, is a Car T-cell therapy that re-engineers a patient's own immune cells to target cancer. It was made available for individuals over 26 with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma, a rare blood cancer.

What happens to patients who have already started Tecartus treatment?

Patients who have already started Tecartus treatment will be able to complete it, and NICE encourages anyone with concerns to speak to their medical team.

Home / Health / Cancer Treatment Appeal: Patients' Last Hope Withdrawn

Cancer Treatment Appeal: Patients' Last Hope Withdrawn

2 Feb

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Summary

NHS watchdog NICE withdraws life-saving Tecartus cancer treatment.
Patient groups lodge formal appeal, citing limited alternatives.
A patient shares success story, calling the decision unbelievable.

Cancer Treatment Appeal: Patients' Last Hope Withdrawn

A formal appeal has been lodged with the NHS spending watchdog after its decision to withdraw the cancer treatment Tecartus from services across England and Wales. This pioneering therapy, which re-engineers a patient's own immune cells to target cancer, was made available through the Cancer Drugs Fund for a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) concluded the treatment did not perform as well in clinical practice as in trials. In response, Blood Cancer UK, Lymphoma Action, and Anthony Nolan have challenged this, expressing serious concerns for patients facing limited alternatives and calling the move a 'backward step for NHS care.'

Tecartus, also known as brexu-cel, is the only Car T-cell therapy available for mantle cell lymphoma, a blood cancer affecting about 600 people annually in the UK. Dr. Rubina Ahmed of Blood Cancer UK stated that for some patients, this therapy offers a last hope of a cure. Emily John, a specialist nurse, witnessed firsthand how Tecartus transformed lives when other options failed.