The NHS has announced the rollout of a groundbreaking drug, tebentafusp, offering new hope to hundreds of patients with an aggressive form of eye cancer.
This first-of-its-kind treatment, approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), is being hailed as a milestone in cancer care.
Patients with uveal melanoma, a rare and challenging cancer, will now have access to the drug when surgery is not an option, or the disease has spread. The treatment, marketed as Kimmtrak®, is set to provide patients with more precious time with loved ones and improve survival chances.
“The Best Early Christmas Present”
One recipient of tebentafusp, Joanne Foster, described the announcement as life-changing. Diagnosed with uveal melanoma following an eye test in 2013, Joanne, 57, has battled cancer for over a decade.
“The news that tebentafusp is now available for hundreds of current and future NHS patients just like me is the best early Christmas present I could’ve asked for,” said Joanne, who lives in Newcastle. “While I know it isn’t a long-term cure, it has shrunk the tumour on my kidney and stabilised my cancer in my lungs, which gives me precious time to spend with my family and loved ones.”
Joanne had been receiving tebentafusp under a compassionate access scheme before its approval. Her story illustrates the hope this drug offers to others facing the same daunting prognosis.
Game-Changing Treatment
Around 600 people in the UK are diagnosed with uveal melanoma each year. For eligible patients, a blood test will determine whether they have the specific genetic markers needed to receive the treatment.
Tebentafusp works by leveraging the body’s immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. Patients will receive weekly intravenous infusions in hospital. Clinical trials have demonstrated remarkable results, with tebentafusp extending average survival from 16.9 months with standard treatments to 21.6 months—an increase of nearly five months. Survival rates three years post-treatment also improved significantly, from 18% to 27%.
“This type of melanoma is difficult to treat when it has spread in the body, so it is great news that the NHS can now offer this pioneering treatment,” said Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer. “This is the latest in a long list of new drugs being made available by the NHS in England to help people to live with cancer, making a difference to the lives of patients and their families across the country.”
A UK Innovation
Tebentafusp was developed by Immunocore, a British company based in Oxford, underscoring the UK’s leadership in life sciences. NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund enabled the fast-tracked rollout of the drug following NICE’s approval.
Mohammed Dar, Senior Vice President of Immunocore, praised the development, saying: “Until today, patients with metastatic uveal melanoma have faced a devastating prognosis and a severe lack of treatment options. Today, we are proud to announce that this pioneering treatment, discovered and developed right here in the UK, is now available on the NHS.”
Advocacy and Collaboration
The rollout of tebentafusp has been celebrated by patient advocacy groups. Jo Gumbs, CEO of Ocular Melanoma UK, described the announcement as “simply incredible.”
“For the first time, eligible patients with this condition will have access to an effective treatment, which offers new hope in the fight against this rare cancer,” she said. “This recommendation highlights the power of collaboration between patients, advocates, and medical experts.”
Building a Legacy of Innovation
The introduction of tebentafusp follows NHS England’s earlier deal for Casgevy®, a beta-thalassaemia gene-editing therapy also manufactured in the UK. The UK now boasts the largest cluster of cell and gene therapy companies outside the US, centred in Stevenage and extending to Oxford, London, and Cambridge.
With NHS England aiming to become a global leader in advanced therapies, today’s announcement reaffirms the nation’s commitment to delivering life-changing treatments to patients while capitalising on homegrown scientific advancements.
Source: NHS / Public Health England
