Janssen Drug Escapes Cancer Drug Fund De-listing

Janssen has reported that it is "extremely pleased" that NHS England confirmed that its drug ibrutinib (Imbruvica) will remain on the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) for the treatment of two types of blood cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). This follows news September 4 that had identified ibrutinib for potential de-listing.

Ibrutinib is a member of a new class of targeted medicines and was granted a licence based on trial data from two separate studies. The treatment can now continue to benefit eligible UK patients with relapsed or refractory CLL and MCL whose disease has come back following their first treatment.