Latest news: Health technology appraisals – Autumn 2025

It has been a busy few months for the policy team with several committee meetings and announcements across the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC).

Recent approvals: Recommended by NICE

Isatuximab (Sarclisa®), bortezomib (Velcade®), lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and dexamethasone (IsaVRD) was approved in September, for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are not eligible for stem cell transplantation. Read more about the approval of this quadruplet here.

Recent approvals: Recommended by SMC

Belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep®), bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVD) for relapsed or refractory myeloma patients who have had one previous treatment and for whom lenalidomide is unsuitable. Read more about this approval for use of BVD in Scotland here.

Forward look: NICE

• Isatuximab, pomalidomide (Imnovid^®) and dexamethasone

The reappraisal for isatuximab with pomalidomide and dexamethasone (IsaPD) is still ongoing with the third committee meeting due to take place in January 2026.

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

• Belantamab mafodotin, bortezomib and dexamethasone

NICE approved the use of belantamab mafodotin with bortezomib and dexamethasone (BVD) in June 2025. However, the decision was published as draft guidance because NICE’s recommendation was narrower than the licenced indication for BVD, limiting its use to second-line and for lenalidomide-refractory or unsuitable patients only.

As a result, the appraisal is ongoing to allow sufficient consultation on the proposed usage restrictions. The committee reconvened in September 2025 to review additional evidence and discuss whether the lenalidomide-based restrictions should be removed.

We expect that the final decision on the use of BVD will be published in January 2026.

• Belantamab mafodotin, pomalidomide and dexamethasone

NICE is appraising the use of belantamab mafodotin, pomalidomide and dexamethasone (BPD) for relapsed or refractory myeloma patients who have had one or more previous treatments.

The NICE committee meeting for the appraisal took place in January 2025 and NICE published a preliminary decision not to recommend BPD for use on the NHS in June.

The second committee meeting to review the draft decision will take place on 5 November 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 proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 antibody.

Myeloma UK submitted evidence for this appraisal and responded to the consultation following NICE’s initial decision not to recommend talquetamab for use in the NHS. If approved by NICE, talquetamab will be the first GPRC5D-directed myeloma treatment in the UK.

The second committee meeting for talquetamab took place on 14 October and we expect that the final decision for talquetamab will be announced in November 2025.

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

NICE is appraising the use of daratumumab with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are not eligible for stem cell transplantation (SCT).

Myeloma UK submitted evidence for this appraisal in July and will attend the first committee meeting in December 2025.

• Daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone

NICE is appraising the use of daratumumab with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (DVRD) for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are eligible for stem cell transplantation.

Myeloma UK submitted evidence for this appraisal in July and will attend the first committee meeting in December 2025. If approved by NICE it will give newly diagnosed patients access to the first minimal residual disease (MRD) tailored treatment regimen.

Forward look: SMC

Isatuximab, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone

The SMC is appraising the use of isatuximab with bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IsaVRD) for newly diagnosed myeloma patients who are not eligible for stem cell transplantation.

The committee meeting for this appraisal took place in October 2025 and the final decision will be published in November 2025.