NICE recommends zanubrutinib for WM

The National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE) has recommended zanubrutinib for treating  Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia (WM) in adults in England and Wales who have had at least 1 treatment, only if:

• Bendamustine plus rituximab is also suitable

Zanubrutinib has been available in England via an NHS scheme called the Cancer Drug Fund (CDF). This decision to recommend zanubrutinib has been made after NICE reviewed the additional evidence. Zanubrutinib is a type of targeted drug called a BTK inhibitor, which block a protein called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase. Targeted drugs are designed to attack particular proteins on lymphoma cells. The proteins they attack are much more common in lymphoma cells than in healthy cells. They are often proteins that are important in helping the cancer cells grow and survive.

The guidance states that people with Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia may live longer and have a better quality of life with zanubrutinib than with standard care.

Find out more about drug development, approval and funding, or visit Lymphoma TrialsLink for the latest on clinical trials for lymphoma.

Published: 16 September 2022