A “next generation” immunotherapy treatment that has the potential to cure leukaemia has been given NHS approval.

Obe-cel is a type of CAR T-cell therapy developed in the UK and works by genetically modifying cells to enable the body’s own immune system to recognise and attack cancer.

The therapy, which only needs to be given once in a lifetime, was developed by Autolus, a University College London (UCL) spinout company.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended obe-cel (also called Aucatzyl) in England for people aged 26 and over.

The watchdog said the treatment could help more than 150 people over the next the three years who have relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), all with limited treatment options.

Obe-cel increase

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