NHS Scotland Approves Talquetamab for 50 Relapsed Myeloma Patients a Year
Updated
Updated · Daily Record · Jun 8
NHS Scotland Approves Talquetamab for 50 Relapsed Myeloma Patients a Year
3 articles · Updated · Daily Record · Jun 8
Summary
Around 50 Scots a year with relapsed myeloma who have exhausted other options will now be eligible for talquetamab on the NHS after Scotland approved the drug.
Talquetamab won backing because it offers a new mechanism for advanced myeloma, with doctors calling it a major advance for patients who previously had very few good options.
Anne Head, 72, joined a Ninewells Hospital trial after being told no treatments remained; nearly two years later she is in remission and her myeloma is undetectable for the first time.
The approval targets a small subset of a wider need: more than 2,400 people live with myeloma in Scotland, and only a little over half survive five years or more.
How does Scotland decide if a life-changing drug for a rare disease is too expensive for the NHS?
A new drug is approved, but why might your local NHS doctor still be unable to prescribe it?
Can a weight-loss jab for heart health truly overcome Scotland’s deep-rooted health inequalities?
NHS Scotland Expands Access: Wegovy Approved for Cardiovascular Risk, SMC Drives Innovation in Medicine Approvals
Overview
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has approved Wegovy (semaglutide) for NHS Scotland, allowing it to be prescribed to overweight adults with established cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of major events like heart attacks and strokes. This marks a shift from using Wegovy solely for weight management to also preventing life-threatening heart conditions. The decision is significant given the high number of heart attacks, strokes, and cases of peripheral arterial disease in the UK, and the increased risk faced by those with a history of these conditions. This approval aims to improve patient outcomes and expand preventive care options.