News | Advanced therapies

Letter

Putting the spotlight back on haemoglobinopathies: the emergence of specialist pharmacists

Haemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disorder (SCD) and thalassaemia, are inherited blood disorders that affect the function of haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. Individuals with SCD can experience acute complications — most notably painful vaso-occlusive cris…

Published: 16 September 2025

News

People with sickle cell disease face racism and ‘sub-standard care’, finds report

A report commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory recommends that more sickle cell training for healthcare professionals, including primary care, is needed.…

Published: 19 June 2025

News

NHS England looks to tender contract for behavioural support for patients prescribed tirzepatide in primary care

The NHS England document said that patients prescribed tirzepatide in primary care settings will receive “high-quality behavioural wrap-around care” as well as clinical support.…

Published: 21 May 2025

News

NICE recommends cladribine for treating active relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis

Cladribine (Mavenclad; Merck) is recommended for treating active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults when high-efficacy disease-modifying therapies would be offered.…

Published: 17 April 2025

News

NICE approves first NHS treatment for advanced blood cancer

Brentuximab combination therapy is a first-line treatment option for previously untreated stage 3 or 4 CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma that could benefit up to 800 people annually.…

Published: 4 April 2025

News

NICE approves gene-editing sickle cell therapy for NHS in England

Exagamglogene autotemcel, also known as exa-cel, is now recommended for NHS use, reversing previous draft guidance.…

Published: 4 February 2025

News

Government advises ICBs set up local plans to address PERT supply shortages

The supply shortage impacts three pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy products: Creon (Viatris) 10,000 and 25,000 capsules, Nutrizym 22 (Zentiva) capsules and Pancrex V (Essential Pharma) capsules and powder.…

Published: 20 December 2024

Feature

Everything you need to know about NICE’s decisions on ‘game-changing’ Alzheimer’s drugs

In August and October 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued a decision not to recommend two new drugs for Alzheimer’s disease that experts had previously welcomed for their disease-modifying effects. We explain the reasons behind their decisions.…

Published: 14 November 2024

News

Over 40% of people with cystic fibrosis have experienced significant health problems resulting from PERT shortage

A survey carried out by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust revealed that 20% of patients are losing weight owing to a shortage in pancreatic enzyme replacement therapies.…

Published: 13 November 2024

News

NICE overturns decision on blood cancer treatment elranatamab

Elranatamab is now recommended as a fourth-line treatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, according to updated guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.…

Published: 1 November 2024