England has taken a historic step: it’s the world’s first country to provide the innovative “Trojan horse” drug, belantamab mafodotin (Blenrep), to blood cancer patients, under public healthcare. Approved by NICE and funded by the NHS, the treatment targets multiple myeloma, a currently incurable bone marrow cancer
🧬 What Is Belantamab Mafodotin?
- Mechanism: An antibody–drug conjugate that binds to cancer cells and delivers a toxin directly inside—like a molecular Trojan horse .
- Administration: Infused every three weeks, alongside other cancer medications (e.g., bortezomib, dexamethasone)
- Effectiveness: Clinical trials indicate median progression-free survival extended to around three years, compared to just one year with standard treatments
🔍 Who Gains Access?
- Around 1,500 patients annually in England, particularly those whose multiple myeloma hasn’t responded to first-line therapies
- Among the first patients, Paul Silvester experienced remission within weeks of treatment—highlighting its life-changing potential
🌟 Why the NHS Lead Matters
- UK leadership in drug access: NHS England is the first health system globally to include Blenrep in routine treatment
- Strengthens oncology innovation reputation: Demonstrates the NHS’s ability to rapidly integrate high-impact treatments, while balancing cost control
- Supports GSK’s pharma comeback: The UK approval revives GSK’s oncology portfolio; Blenrep is projected to become a £3 billion/year blockbuster
🔮 What Comes Next
- Advanced drug combos featuring Blenrep (with bortezomib + dexamethasone, or pomalidomide + dexamethasone) have also received MHRA approval
- NICE will monitor long‑term outcomes and cost effectiveness as more patients receive the treatment.
- Meanwhile, the NHS continues its momentum, recently rolling out CRISPR gene-editing and CAR‑T therapies, reinforcing its position at the forefront of blood cancer care
✅ Summary
With this move, the UK becomes the first country to provide belantamab mafodotin to multiple myeloma patients, marking a major milestone in targeted cancer treatment. It delivers hope to those who exhausted standard options, showcasing the NHS’s rapid adoption of advanced therapies.
