NHS remove restrictions on ibrutinib for relapsed CLL
Published on: 20 August 2018Positive update about ibrutinib and relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
The Times recently reported that NHS England were not following NICE guidelines and were restricting funding of the targeted drug ibrutinib to people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who relapsed (CLL got worse) within 3 years of previous treatment. This meant that people who had a long remission after their first treatment were unable to have ibrutinib on the NHS if they relapsed.
Leading haematologists called upon NHS England to reverse this decision. NHS England have since assessed new evidence and are now making ibrutinib available on the NHS for people who relapse after previous treatment, even if they had a long remission.