Lenalidomide for the treatment of multiple myeloma in people who have received at least one prior therapy

The NICE Appraisal Committee's preliminary recommendations are as follows:

Lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone is recommended, within its licensed indication, as an option for the treatment of multiple myeloma in people who have received two or more prior therapies, under the following circumstances

• The NHS will cover the cost of the drug for the first 2 years (26 cycles of 28 days) of treatment.
• The drug cost of lenalidomide (excluding any related costs) for people who remain on treatment for longer than 2 years will be met by the manufacturer. 

People currently receiving lenalidomide for the treatment of multiple myeloma, but who have not received two or more prior therapies, should have the option to continue therapy until they and their clinicians consider it appropriate to stop.

In coming to these preliminary recommendations, the Appraisal Committee "accepted that the benefits provided by lenalidomide fitted the criteria for consideration for appraising a life-extending, end-of-life treatment".  The Committee also took into account the cost capping scheme proposed by the manufacturer, Celgene, which improves the cost-effectiveness of lenalidomide and removes uncertainty over the long-term costs to the NHS.

Rarer Cancers Forum welcomes and warmly endorses the Appraisal Committee's preliminary recommendations and sincerely hopes that the final outcome will be a positive final appraisal determination (FAD).