NICE has issued new preliminary draft guidance for consultation which proposes recommending ofatumumab with chlorambucil for untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

CLL is the most common form of leukaemia in England, with around 2,700 people being diagnosed with the condition each year. Half of the people who need treatment for their condition are not able to use the standard first-line treatment of fludarabine combination therapy; however, bendamustine is a NICE‑recommended alternative treatment that is already available.

Ofatumumab works by attaching itself to the surface of B‑cells (a type of white blood cell that is overproduced in CLL). This activates the immune system, enabling the B‑cells to be killed. In this preliminary guidance, NICE has recommended ofatumumab (also known as Arzerra and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline) taken with chlorambucil for untreated CLL in people who are ineligible for treatment with fludarabine combination therapy and for whom bendamustine is unsuitable.

GlaxoSmithKline have agreed to provide ofatumumab to the NHS at a reduced price; the company has agreed with the Department of Health that the size of the discount to be confidential.

For more details, go to: https://www.nice.org.uk/news/press-and-media/nice-proposes-to-recommend-another-new-drug-for-people-with-lymphocytic-leukaemia