Three leading blood cancer charities have formally appealed against a decision to remove a key CAR-T cell therapy, Gilead’s Tecartus, as a treatment option for some patients with mantle cell lymphoma on the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales.
In a final draft guidance released in December 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not recommended the use of Tecartus (brexucabtagene autoleucel) for treating relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic treatment. According to the guidance, the therapy “is not required to be funded and should not be used routinely in the NHS in England for the condition and population in the recommendations. This is because the available evidence does not suggest that brexucabtagene autoleucel is value for money in this population.”
In their jointly submitted appeal, Blood Cancer UK, Anthony Nolan and Lymphoma Action point out that for some, Tecartus offers a last hope of a cure.
NICE has said its recommendation should not affect people who had already started Tecartus before the draft guidance was published.
Subscribe to our e-Newsletters
Stay up to date with news, articles and insights relevant to cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing. Plus, get special offers from Cell & Gene Therapy Review delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up now!