Life-extending DVRD set to give people in Scotland remissions of over four years

Myeloma UK has claimed a well-earned victory after a new pioneering treatment that could stop myeloma in its tracks for more than four years was approved in Scotland.

DVRD is aimed at newly-diagnosed patients who are not eligible for a stem cell transplant.

It combines daratumumab (Darzalex®), bortezomib (Velcade®), lenalidomide (Revlimid®) and dexamethasone.

Around 320 people could receive this life-extending treatment each year.

The latest trial data shows that 68% of people on DVRD were still in remission after four and a half years.

Gabrielle King, Senior Policy Officer at Myeloma UK, said:

“This is fantastic news. Myeloma UK were there every step of the way to get this treatment approved, from providing evidence to making sure that the SMC heard from people living with myeloma. DVRD has the potential to keep myeloma at bay for more than four years. That’s four plus years people with myeloma will get to spend with loved ones: more Christmases together, more time to celebrate birthdays or graduations, to watch their children or grandchildren grow up.

“But time is of the essence when you’re diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer, so we’ll work closely with the NHS and SMC to make sure DVRD is rolled out to hospitals across Scotland as quickly as possible and that no one misses out.

“Until we have a cure, it is absolutely vital that people with myeloma get the treatment they need as soon as they’re diagnosed.”

Daratumumab belongs to a group of drugs known as monoclonal antibodies and works by attaching to a protein present on the surface of myeloma cells. This flags the cell to the immune system and allows it to target and kill the myeloma cell.

Because daratumumab is given as an injection, it is quicker and more convenient than many treatments. Dosing frequency can also be reduced faster, which means fewer hospital visits and much more flexibility for patients.

Q&A

What is DVRD?

DVRD is a combination treatment used to treat myeloma. It contains four drugs: daratumumab, bortezomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone. Whilst these drugs are already being used to treat myeloma, this quadruplet is a new combination for newly-diagnosed transplant-ineligible patients in Scotland.

DVRD is given in two phases: induction and maintenance. In the induction phase, patients get all four drugs. In the maintenance phase, patients come off bortezomib and continue with DRD.

What about newly-diagnosed patients who are eligible for a transplant?

People may be aware that NICE has recommended a similar DVRD treatment approach, including daratumumab and lenalidomide doublet maintenance, for transplant-eligible patients in England and Wales. The SMC is currently considering the maintenance part of this treatment approach for transplant-eligible patients in Scotland.

This is a separate process from the current approval of DVRD for people who are not eligible for transplant.

What about people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

DVRD is already approved in England and Wales for both transplant-eligible and transplant-ineligible patients.

In Northern Ireland, the Department for Health makes decisions on which treatments to fund through the NHS. It can follow guidance issued by either NICE or the SMC but usually follows the guidance issued by NICE.