New treatment for T-cell skin lymphoma approved in Scotland
Published on: 13 January 2020Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®) is now available on the NHS in Scotland for adults with some advanced T-cell skin lymphomas.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has today (13 January) announced that brentuximab vedotin (brand name Adcetris®) will be available on the NHS in Scotland for adults with certain advanced T-cell skin lymphomas who have not responded (refractory) or whose lymphoma has come back (relapsed) after at least one previous systemic (whole body) treatment. This includes people with:
- mycosis fungoides that is stage 2B or above
- primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma
- Sézary syndrome.
Brentuximab vedotin is only suitable for people who have had lab tests that show their lymphoma cells make a protein called CD30 (known as ‘CD30-positive’ or ‘CD30+’ lymphoma).
Brentuximab vedotin is a type of targeted therapy called an antibody–drug conjugate. This is an antibody joined to a chemotherapy drug. The antibody sticks to CD30 on lymphoma cells and delivers the chemotherapy directly to them.
Brentuximab vedotin is already available on the NHS in England and Wales for adults with advanced CD30-positive T-cell skin lymphoma who have had at least one previous systemic treatment.
We are pleased that the SMC's decision provides equal access to people living in Scotland as this means that people with this rare and challenging lymphoma have further options for treatment.
For more information about new drugs being developed to treat lymphoma, visit Lymphoma TrialsLink.
13 January 2019