Tafasitamab with lenalidomide not recommended

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has not recommended tafasitamab with lenalidomide for treating relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in adults who are not eligible for an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT).

Although the phase II study showed a good response rate, the SMC committee concluded that its health benefits in relation to cost was not sufficient and therefore did not accept it for use in NHSScotland.

Tafasitamab with lenalidomide was also assessed by NICE and was not recommended in March.

Current treatment options for R/R DLBCL in Scotland include salvage chemotherapy followed by high dose chemotherapy and ASCT for fit patients who relapse following first line therapy. Polatuzumab vedotin in combination with bendamustine and rituximab has been licenced and approved by SMC on an interim basis for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who are not candidates for ASCTs. CAR T-cell therapies are also licensed and approved by SMC for relapsed or refractory DLBCL, after two or more lines of systemic therapy.

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

Published: 17 May 2023