Health technology appraisals – Spring 2025

Maddie Dichiu
Published:
Sign up to join the conversation

It has been a busy and exciting start to 2025. The National Cancer Medicines Advisory Group (NCMAG) has already made two positive recommendations for pomalidomide-based treatments which bring much needed flexibility to the treatment pathway in Scotland. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has also completed scoping for two new appraisals which will see the number of active NICE appraisals in 2025 increase to seven.

Recent approvals: Recommended by National Cancer Medicines Advisory Group – Scotland

Pomalidomide (Imnovid®), bortezomib (Velcade®) and dexamethasone (PVD) for myeloma patients who have received at least one prior treatment including lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and when anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies are not suitable.

Pomalidomide and dexamethasone (PD) for myeloma patients who have received at least one prior treatment including lenalidomide and where existing treatments are not suitable due to frailty, co-morbidities or unacceptable treatment burden.

Read more about the NCMAG approvals of PVD and PD in Scotland here
Discover more about navigating the NCMAG process as a clinician, from Dr Jennifer Travers

Forward look: NICE

  • Isatuximab (Sarclisa®), pomalidomide and dexamethasone

Following a successful appeal by Myeloma UK and the UK Myeloma Society, isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (IsaPD) will be reappraised at a third committee meeting on 6 August. In the meeting, the committee will discuss the findings from the appeal and reassess the cost-effectiveness of IsaPD before making their final decision about routine commissioning.

The treatment remains available and can be offered to patients not currently on IsaPD whilst the appraisal is ongoing.

  • Belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep®), bortezomib and dexamethasone

NICE is appraising belantamab mafodotin, bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVD) for relapsed or refractory myeloma patients who have had one or more previous treatments. Myeloma UK is involved in this appraisal and submitted evidence on behalf of patients in May 2024. The NICE committee meeting took place on 8 January 2025. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) licence for this indication was approved on 17 April and so we expect to be notified of NICE’s decision very soon.

  • Belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep®), pomalidomide and dexamethasone

NICE has started the appraisal of belantamab mafodotin, pomalidomide and dexamethasone (BPD) for relapsed or refractory myeloma patients who have had one or more previous treatments. Myeloma UK submitted evidence on behalf of patients in August 2024. The NICE committee meeting took place in January 2025. The MHRA licence for this indication was approved on 17 April and so we expect to be notified of NICE’s decision soon.

  • Isatuximab, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone

NICE has started the appraisal for isatuximab with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (Isa-VRD) for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are not eligible for stem cell transplantation. This combination treatment was evaluated in the IMROZ trial and if approved will be the first quadruplet for patients who can’t have a SCT. Myeloma UK submitted evidence for this appraisal in October 2024 and will attend the first committee meeting on 7 May 2025.

  • Talquetamab (Talvey®) monotherapy

NICE is appraising  the use of talquetamab monotherapy for relapsed and refractory myeloma patients who have had three or more lines of treatment including an immunomodulatory drug, a proteosome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 antibody. This combination treatment was evaluated in the MonumenTAL-1 trial and if approved by NICE will be the first GPRC5D-directed myeloma treatment in the UK. Myeloma UK submitted evidence for this appraisal in March 2025 and will attend the first committee meeting on 12 August 2025.

  • Daratumumab (Darzalex®), bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone

NICE has completed scoping for an appraisal looking at the use of daratumumab with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are not eligible for high-dose therapy and stem cell transplantation (HDT-SCT). This combination treatment was evaluated in the CEPHEUS trial and has shown promising results for patients who are not suitable for a SCT. The European Commission approved the indication on 7 April 2025 and the MHRA licence should be approved in the coming months. We expect the appraisal to start in May 2025.

  • Daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone

NICE has completed scoping for an appraisal looking at the use of daratumumab with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (DVRD) for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are eligible for HDT-SCT. This combination treatment was evaluated in the PERSEUS trial and if approved by NICE it will give newly diagnosed patients access to the first minimal residual disease (MRD) tailored treatment regimen. We expect the appraisal to start in May 2025.

If you would like more information on HTA processes, upcoming treatment appraisals, or Myeloma UK’s access work, contact the Policy Team.



You might also like