25 November 2016 - Hundreds of people could benefit as NICE decision means ibrutinib can come off the Cancer Drugs Fund and be routinely available to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Ibrutinib will be available as a routine option for an estimated 620 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia who have had treatment before, or who have genetic changes – known as 17p deletion or TP53 mutation.

An earlier recommendation by NICE did not recommend ibrutinib, also known as Imbruvica, for routine NHS use. However, following a reduction in price, the independent appraisal committee were able to approve the drug as cost effective.

Read NICE press release