A “life-changing” new treatment for people living with sickle cell disease is to be made available on the NHS.
Around 4,000 people living with the potentially fatal blood disorder could see their lives transformed by the drug Voxelotor.
Hazel Attua, 33, has been taking the medication for nearly two years. The former finance worker said the chronic pain forced her to quit her career.
She said: “One of the most significant changes I’ve experienced is in my energy levels. Previously, the exhaustion from sickle cell made it challenging to function, impacting my ability to work and enjoy time with loved ones. I wasn’t living the life of a 20-something by any means.
“Since starting Voxelotor, my energy has soared, making a massive change to my daily routine. This has not only improved my physical well-being but also my mental health.”
Sickle cell disorder causes red blood cells to take on a “sickle” shape, break and die early, which vastly reduces the amount of oxygen they can carry.
It leaves those affected with chronic anaemia and episodes of crippling pain, called crises, which can be life-threatening and frequently require hospital care.
The inherited condition also gives rise to a range of life-altering complications such as stroke, chronic fatigue, delayed growth, infections, progressive tissue and organ damage.
The drug works by helping haemoglobin – a protein in red blood cells – hold on to more oxygen and prevent red blood cells from becoming misshapen.
It was initially rejected for widespread NHS use but the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved the drug in final draft guidance after a reduction in its price.
John James, chief executive of the Sickle Cell Society, said: “Today’s approval by NICE marks a significant milestone in sickle cell care, addressing decades of limited access to disease-modifying treatments.
“We look forward to this being the first in a series of new treatment options for people living with sickle cell disorder.”
Read more from Sky News:
NASA and China’s space race explained
Football star hit with new betting ban
Black cab drivers file Uber lawsuit
Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “This is great news for people with sickle cell disease, particularly given the health inequalities experienced by people with the condition.”
The drug, which is taken as a once-a-day tablet, will be available straight away.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said the service had “worked hard to make this life-changing treatment available”.
She added: “Sickle cell disease can have a huge impact on people’s lives, and this is one of the biggest breakthroughs in treatment in recent decades, so I know how much this announcement will mean for thousands of people across the country.”
Around 17,500 people are living with sickle cell disease in the UK and the condition is more common among people with an African or Caribbean family background. Of those 17,500, about 4,000 are believed to be eligible for the new treatment.
Voxelotor is also known as Oxbryta and is made by Pfizer.
Source Agencies
