UK's NICE backs use of thalidomide and bortezomib for multiple myeloma

In draft guidance published yesterday, the UK's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), which considered the evidence submitted and the views of non-manufacturer consultees and commentators, and clinical specialists and patient experts, has recommended two new treatments for multiple myeloma for use in the National Health Service in England and Wales.

Thalidomide (Thalidomide Celgene from USA-based Celgene) in combination with an alkylating agent and a corticosteroid is recommended for the first line treatment of multiple myeloma in people for whom high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation is considered inappropriate. Bortezomib (Velcade, from Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Janssen-Cilag) in combination with an alkylating agent and a corticosteroid is recommended as a treatment option if the person is unable to tolerate or has contraindications for thalidomide.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that develops from cells in the bone marrow. There is currently no cure for the disease, only treatments to stop the progress of the condition and help relieve symptoms. Almost 4,000 cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed every year in the UK.