This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58791333
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| First new treatment for sickle cell in 20 years | First new treatment for sickle cell in 20 years |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Sarah-Jane has sickle-cell disease, lives with constant pain and needs a blood transfusion every six weeks | Sarah-Jane has sickle-cell disease, lives with constant pain and needs a blood transfusion every six weeks |
| The first new sickle-cell treatment in 20 years will help keep thousands of people out of hospital over the next three years, NHS England has said. | The first new sickle-cell treatment in 20 years will help keep thousands of people out of hospital over the next three years, NHS England has said. |
| Sickle-cell disease is incurable and affects 15,000 people in the UK. | Sickle-cell disease is incurable and affects 15,000 people in the UK. |
| And the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said the hope of reducing health inequalities for black people, who are predominantly affected and often have poorer health outcomes due to a number of social factors, made the drug worth recommending. | |
| It called it "an innovative treatment". | It called it "an innovative treatment". |
| Painful episodes | Painful episodes |
| The drug, crizanlizumab, made by Novartis, is injected into a vein and can be taken on its own or alongside standard treatment and regular blood transfusions. | The drug, crizanlizumab, made by Novartis, is injected into a vein and can be taken on its own or alongside standard treatment and regular blood transfusions. |
| And in a trial, patients taking the crizanlizumab had a sickle-cell crisis 1.6 times a year on average, compared with nearly three times a year normally. | And in a trial, patients taking the crizanlizumab had a sickle-cell crisis 1.6 times a year on average, compared with nearly three times a year normally. |
| These painful episodes, which can require hospital treatment and lead to other health complications, are caused by by sickle-shaped red blood cells blocking the small blood vessels . | These painful episodes, which can require hospital treatment and lead to other health complications, are caused by by sickle-shaped red blood cells blocking the small blood vessels . |
| But because the trial was small and lasted only a year, it remains unknown how long the benefits last for - and that makes it difficult to judge how cost-effective crizanlizumab is. | But because the trial was small and lasted only a year, it remains unknown how long the benefits last for - and that makes it difficult to judge how cost-effective crizanlizumab is. |
| Nevertheless, NICE, which recommends treatments in England and Wales, is recommending its use for over-16s, albeit under a special arrangement rather than routinely, on the NHS. | Nevertheless, NICE, which recommends treatments in England and Wales, is recommending its use for over-16s, albeit under a special arrangement rather than routinely, on the NHS. |
| And additional data on the treatment will be collected through clinical trials. | And additional data on the treatment will be collected through clinical trials. |
| The charity Sickle Cell Society said the new treatment brought "new hope" for people living with the world's most common genetic blood condition. | The charity Sickle Cell Society said the new treatment brought "new hope" for people living with the world's most common genetic blood condition. |
| NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "The moment that a new drug comes that is approved to be used, our job is to make sure that we can do a deal to ensure it's affordable and get it out as quickly as possible." | NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: "The moment that a new drug comes that is approved to be used, our job is to make sure that we can do a deal to ensure it's affordable and get it out as quickly as possible." |
| 'Every day is pain' | 'Every day is pain' |
| Sarah-Jane has to rely on a whole range of medication to manage her sickle-cell disease, including very strong painkillers | Sarah-Jane has to rely on a whole range of medication to manage her sickle-cell disease, including very strong painkillers |
| Diagnosed at birth, Sarah-Jane Nkrumah, 27, had her first crisis aged six months and has chronic pain in her joints. | Diagnosed at birth, Sarah-Jane Nkrumah, 27, had her first crisis aged six months and has chronic pain in her joints. |
| "Every day is pain," she says. | "Every day is pain," she says. |
| "I don't remember the last time I had zero pain." | "I don't remember the last time I had zero pain." |
| Sarah-Jane prefers to take breaks from taking painkillers - but some days cannot get out of bed. | Sarah-Jane prefers to take breaks from taking painkillers - but some days cannot get out of bed. |
| "You just have to try and manage it," she says. | "You just have to try and manage it," she says. |
| "I don't have a choice. | "I don't have a choice. |
| "It's all about having a lot of mental strength and support." | "It's all about having a lot of mental strength and support." |
| And every six weeks, she has a blood transfusion to boost her energy levels. | And every six weeks, she has a blood transfusion to boost her energy levels. |
| "I feel weak and exhausted leading up to them and refreshed and stronger afterwards," she says. | "I feel weak and exhausted leading up to them and refreshed and stronger afterwards," she says. |
| "Thanks to donors, I get a chance to live another day." | "Thanks to donors, I get a chance to live another day." |
| Sarah-Jane had to give up her ambition to become a nursery teacher because it put her at risk of serious infection. | Sarah-Jane had to give up her ambition to become a nursery teacher because it put her at risk of serious infection. |
| "Now, I have found my true purpose and love spreading awareness of sickle-cell disease," she says. | "Now, I have found my true purpose and love spreading awareness of sickle-cell disease," she says. |
| Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, at NICE, said: "Treatment for sickle-cell disease has been limited for years and there has been a lack of treatments for patients whose lives are affected by the condition. | Meindert Boysen, deputy chief executive and director of the Centre for Health Technology Evaluation, at NICE, said: "Treatment for sickle-cell disease has been limited for years and there has been a lack of treatments for patients whose lives are affected by the condition. |
| "Crizanlizumab... has shown the potential to improve hundreds of lives and we are delighted to be able to recommend it as the first new treatment for sickle cell disease in two decades." | "Crizanlizumab... has shown the potential to improve hundreds of lives and we are delighted to be able to recommend it as the first new treatment for sickle cell disease in two decades." |
| What is sickle cell disease? | What is sickle cell disease? |
| It is inherited from both parents, who pass on a particular gene | It is inherited from both parents, who pass on a particular gene |
| It is possible to carry the gene without having the disease | It is possible to carry the gene without having the disease |
| Nearly 300 babies are born with it each year in the UK | Nearly 300 babies are born with it each year in the UK |
| A simple blood test will show whether someone has it | A simple blood test will show whether someone has it |
| Children with sickle cell are at greater risk of stroke | Children with sickle cell are at greater risk of stroke |
| Other symptoms can include serious infections, anaemia and tiredness | Other symptoms can include serious infections, anaemia and tiredness |
| Source: Sickle Cell Society / NHS UK | Source: Sickle Cell Society / NHS UK |