CAR T-cell Therapy rejected for funding in DLBCL

It is disappointing to learn that the Medical Services Advisory Committee did not find in favour of funding tisagenlecleucel a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The committee felt that the evidence in support of the therapy was not as promising in DLBCL as it was in the paediatric population with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). At 12 months 40% of patients with DLBCL treated with CAR T-cell therapy were still alive at 12months compared to 71% of patients with ALL who were treated with CAR T-cell therapy. The committee decided that more trials were needed to support the funding of this expensive treatment in DLBCL. This leaves patients having to pay $600,000 for the treatment themselves. It is incredibly sad for all those patients needing this treatment. Funding for trials is critical.
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