Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission research to (a) track and (b) compare international access to myeloma treatments; whether his Department holds data on the use by other countries of isatuximab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of myeloma patients; and when he expects NICE to publish its final guidance on the use of isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in the treatment of such patients.

The Department has no plans to commission research to compare international access to myeloma treatments. There are a number of independent publications that compare international access to new medicines, including cancer medicines, such as the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations’ W.A.I.T Indicators, which is available at the following link:

https://efpia.eu/media/vtapbere/efpia-patient-wait-indicator-2024.pdf

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance in November 2020 that recommended isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone as an option for the treatment of adults with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma meeting specified clinical criteria within the Cancer Drugs Fund, for a period of managed access to collect more data and reduce the uncertainty in the available evidence base. The NICE is currently updating its guidance, taking into account real world evidence generated through the Cancer Drugs Fund and published final draft guidance in June 2024. The NICE has received appeals against its draft recommendations that will be heard by its independent appeal panel on 23 September 2024. The NICE will update stakeholders on timescales for its appraisal following the appeal hearing.

Isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone will remain available to eligible patients through the Cancer Drugs Fund in line with the NICE’s guidance published in November 2020, pending the NICE’s final updated guidance. If it is ultimately not recommended, patients who are receiving the treatment at the time will continue to do so in line with the managed access agreement entered into by the company with the NICE. There are a number of multiple myeloma topics that are currently being evaluated in the programme, some of which are expected to conclude late this year and early next year.