Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many multiple myeloma patients have been treated with isatuximab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone under the Cancer Drugs Fund; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of loss of access to this therapy on patients.

Isatuximab, in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone, has been available via the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) since October 2020. To date, 1,703 patients have been registered to start treatment.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently updating its guidance on the use of isatuximab, taking into account evidence generated on its use through the CDF. The NICE has not yet published final guidance.

NHS England has been working closely with the manufacturer Sanofi to reach an agreement that will enable access to isatuximab for future patients, in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone, for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Access to treatment for existing patients who will have already started treatment will not be affected by the outcome of the NICE’s appraisal.