NEUROSURGERY BREAKTHROUGH: New Drug Offers Hope for Aggressive Eye Cancer Patients
In a landmark decision, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended a groundbreaking treatment for patients battling a particularly aggressive form of eye cancer. Kimmtrak (tebentafusp), developed by Immunocore, has been given the green light for use on the NHS in England, marking the first-ever drug approved to combat this challenging disease.
This new therapy offers a lifeline to adults in England diagnosed with HLA-A*02:01-positive uveal melanoma, a rare and aggressive cancer affecting the eye. This type of melanoma often spreads to other parts of the body, historically leaving patients with limited options and a poor prognosis.
Kimmtrak, administered weekly through an intravenous infusion, utilizes a unique approach to fight the cancer. It acts as a bridge between specific proteins found on melanoma cells and a patient’s own T-cells, effectively “teaching” the immune system to recognize and destroy the cancer cells, ultimately slowing its growth.
“This type of melanoma is difficult to treat when it has spread in the body, so it is great news that the NHS can now offer this pioneering treatment, giving people an option that can extend their lives and offer them valuable extra time with their families and friends,” said Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer.
The drug’s approval comes after promising results from clinical trials. Patients taking Kimmtrak demonstrated a 27% chance of surviving three years after beginning treatment, compared to just 18% for those receiving standard-of-care checkpoint inhibitors. Additionally, Kimmtrak lengthened average overall survival by nearly five months, from 16.9 months to 21.6 months.
“This is a groundbreaking moment for individuals with metastatic uveal melanoma,” said Jo Gumbs, chief executive officer and founder of Ocular Melanoma UK.
Susanna Daniels, chief executive officer of Melanoma Focus, echoed the sentiment, stating, “The option to prescribe [Kimmtrak] is a step change for patients and their families, and we continue to support the process so that there is reimbursement for the therapy across the UK for all eligible patients.”
Kimmtrak will be available to eligible patients in England through NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund, which is designed to expedite access to promising new cancer treatments. This approval serves as a beacon of hope for both patients and the wider medical community, offering a new weapon in the fight against this devastating disease.
