Review of drug approval

Update on NICE review of drug approval methods

The way evidence is used to approve new treatments for use on the NHS is set to change, under a review being carried out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The review of methods, running throughout 2020, is an opportunity to address some of the challenges in approving treatments: for example, ensuring…

Sarah MacDonald - New Director of Research, Myeloma UK

Myeloma UK introduces new Director of Research

This month Myeloma UK welcomed Sarah McDonald as our new Director of Research. In her new role, Sarah will be responsible for both the patient advocacy and research teams. She will play a key role in advancing our patient advocacy work and health services, translational, and clinical research programmes to strengthen the impact of Myeloma…

Picture of bacteria

Reducing serious infection in newly diagnosed myeloma patients by antibiotic prophylaxis: results from the TEAMM trial

Serious infection is one of the largest contributors to early mortality in myeloma. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis for newly diagnosed patients starting treatment offers an opportunity to tackle this early complication however the potential for antibiotic resistance, side effects and healthcare associated infections needs to be carefully considered. Last month Prof Mark Drayson, Consultant…

New international guidelines recommend the use of whole-body imaging in monoclonal plasma cell disorders

New recommendations from the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) on the use of imaging methods in monoclonal plasma cell disorders were recently published in The Lancet Oncology. (1) Overall, the guidelines recommend that more sensitive imaging techniques, such as whole-body CT and MRI, be introduced generally into clinical practices for the diagnosis and management of…