Eye cancer breakthrough as NHS roll out new ‘pioneering’ drug – which could boost patients survival time by months

Officials have announced people with a rare form of eye cancer will have access to a “pioneering” drug on the NHS which could improve survival chances.

Uveal melanoma, which develops from cells in the middle layer of the eye, known as the uvea, is thought to affect between 500 and 600 people in the UK each year.

Tebentafusp, sold under the brand name Kimmtrak, is the first treatment of its kind and more than 100 people are expected to be eligible.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended tebentafusp for patients whose uveal melanoma cannot be removed with surgery, or has spread to other parts of the body.

The treatment works by attaching to the proteins on the surface of cancer cells and T cells, a type of white blood cell. This helps the immune system recognise and kill cancer cells, slowing the growth of the disease.

NHS England reports that trials have shown the chance of surviving three years after starting tebentafusp is 27 per cent compared with 18 per cent on the current standard treatment,.

The current treatment uses checkpoint inhibitors, a type of immunotherapy that treats cancer by blocking proteins which can prevent the immune system from attacking cancer cells.

Overall survival on tebentafusp was also 21.6 months compared with 16.9 months.

One person who has benefitted from the new treatment is Joanne Foster, 57, from Newcastle, who was diagnosed with uveal melanoma in 2013.

She was first offered tebentafusp last year through a compassionate access scheme after the cancer spread to her lungs and kidneys.

She said: “Living with uveal melanoma is both physically and mentally draining – I’ve had my eye removed and ongoing treatment for over a decade, with the uncertainty of not knowing what is round the corner being incredibly difficult, particularly with no treatments available until now.

“The news that tebentafusp is now available for hundreds of current and future NHS patients just like me is the best early Christmas present I could’ve asked for.

NHS national clinical director for cancer Professor Peter Johnson told the Independent: “This type of melanoma is difficult to treat when it has spread in the body, so it is great news that the NHS can now offer this pioneering treatment, giving people an option that can extend their lives and offer them valuable extra time with their families and friends.”

Chief executive and founder of Ocular Melanoma UK Jo Gumbs described the announcement as “simply incredible.”

She added: “For too long, metastatic uveal melanoma has been a devastating cancer so we look forward to many more improvements in the future so every patient has access to the treatments they need.”