Removal of Tecartus cancer treatment from NHS prompts charity appeal

Blood Cancer UK, Lymphoma Action and Anthony Nolan have formally appealed NICE's decision to recommend against continued NHS use of Tecartus for mantle cell lymphoma; NICE says patients who have already started the treatment may complete it and will review the appeal through its established process.

NICE has recommended against continued NHS rollout of Tecartus (brexu-cel), a CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma, after reviewing real-world data collected while the drug was made available through the Cancer Drugs Fund. Charities representing people with blood cancers have lodged a formal appeal against the decision and raised concerns about limited treatment alternatives for some patients. NICE said its independent committee considered nearly five years of real‑world NHS data and found outcomes were worse than in the original trials. The organisation has welcomed the appeal and said it will consider the points raised through its established process. Key facts: - The watchdog (NICE) recommended against continuing Tecartus use on the NHS, reporting median survival of 2.5 years in NHS patients compared with four years in the original trials. - Blood Cancer UK, Lymphoma Action and Anthony Nolan have formally appealed the decision and expressed concern for patients with few other options. - NICE confirmed people who have already started Tecartus treatment may complete it and that it will review the appeal through its established procedures. - Tecartus was made available via the Cancer Drugs Fund for certain adults with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma, a rare blood cancer affecting several hundred people a year in the UK. Summary: NICE's recommendation against continued NHS use of Tecartus is being challenged by major patient charities, who say the decision affects people with limited alternatives. NICE has noted the real‑world outcomes informed its decision and will consider the formal appeal through its usual process; the timing and outcome of that review are undetermined at this time.