Cancer patients living with a rare disease that attacks the body’s own organs following a life-saving
It can be taken at home, reducing the number of hospital appointments for some patients.
In clinical trials using belumosudil to treat chronic graft versus host disease, up to three quarters of patients responded to therapy and this was most effective for treating disease affecting the mouth, intestine or joints.
Professor Adrian Bloor, a Consultant Haematologist at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The rapid rollout of belumosudil provides hope for patients living with chronic graft versus host disease, and signals a major step forward in addressing the often-debilitating consequences of the disease.
“Although belumosudil has only been available for a short time, it is already demonstrating a transformative benefit for patients under my care.”
Dr Robert Danby, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Anthony Nolan, the stem cell transplant charity, said: “We know from our patients only too well the devastating effect chronic graft versus host disease can have on a person’s physical and mental health.
“This is welcome news for stem cell transplant recipients across England and Wales who struggle with this debilitating, life-threatening condition. We are investing in vital research to help even more patients survive and thrive after a stem cell transplant.”
Belumosudil is the latest innovative medicine that has been secured for NHS patients following recent rollout of wearable Parkinson’s treatment, foslevodopa-foscarbidopa and preventative breast cancer drug, anastrozole.
The treatment is made available via the NHS England’s Innovative Medicines Fund, which fast-tracks the most promising non-cancer medicines to patients.
This is the fourth treatment that has been made available to patients earlier through the Innovative Medicines Fund.
Last September, the NHS used the fund to rapidly roll out Sebelipase alfa, a treatment for Wolman’s Disease – a rare genetic and fatal condition which presents in babies and children.
