NICE Expands Access Across Oncology and Dermatology With Three Major Approvals Covering DLBCL, Multiple Myeloma, and Chronic Hand Eczema
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued three major recommendations this week, expanding access to advanced treatments across hematologic cancers and dermatology. The decisions include new endorsements for Roche’s Columvi-GemOx regimen for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), Johnson & Johnson’s TALVEY® (talquetamab) for heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma, and LEO Pharma’s delgocitinib (Anzupgo) the first and only topical JAK inhibitor approved for moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema.
The three approvals reflect NICE’s evolving posture:
- openness to bispecific immunotherapies that target novel antigens
- willingness to support next-generation T-cell–engagers in late-line settings
- and attention to dermatology conditions long underserved by traditional treatments.
Together, they reinforce NICE’s increasingly nuanced consideration of patient quality of life, care equity, comparative effectiveness, and NHS resource implications.
Columvi-GemOx Receives NICE Backing for Transplant-Ineligible DLBCL
In a move welcomed by clinicians treating aggressive lymphomas, NICE issued a positive Final Draft Guidance endorsing Columvi (glofitamab) in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) for adults with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who are ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplant.
DLBCL remains the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and patient outcomes drop sharply after relapse. For those unable to undergo transplant often due to age, frailty, or comorbidities options have traditionally been limited.
Prof Chris Fox of Nottingham University Hospitals noted that this group has “traditionally poor outcomes,” emphasizing that NICE’s recommendation provides a meaningful second-line alternative. Recent British Society for Haematology guidance also positions Columvi-GemOx as an important option for post–first-line failure.
Columvi, a CD20xCD3 bispecific antibody, redirects T-cells toward malignant B-cells, while GemOx adds cytotoxic potency. The approval aligns with a growing trend toward immunochemotherapy combinations for difficult-to-treat lymphomas.
NICE Recommends TALVEY® (Talquetamab) for Late-Line Multiple Myeloma
NICE also issued a Final Draft Guidance recommending TALVEY®▼ (talquetamab) for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after three or more prior lines of therapy.
Multiple myeloma remains incurable, and nearly all patients eventually relapse. After several lines of therapy, options narrow dramatically, making late-line innovation essential.
Talquetamab is a first-in-class bispecific antibody targeting GPRC5D, a receptor highly expressed on myeloma cells. It redirects T-cells via CD3 engagement, effectively mobilizing the immune system against treatment-resistant malignant cells.
The recommendation is supported by the Phase 1/2 MonumenTAL-1 study, which demonstrated:
• 74.1% ORR at 0.4 mg/kg weekly
• 71.7% ORR at 0.8 mg/kg every other week
These response rates are notable given the heavily pre-treated patient population, many of whom had exhausted standard options including IMiDs, PIs, and anti-CD38 antibodies.
Patient advocacy organization Myeloma UK called the decision a “hard-earned victory,” stressing the psychological and physical toll experienced by patients who repeatedly relapse.
J&J’s UK access leadership said the recommendation provides “an additional therapy option with a unique target” for those with limited alternatives. The decision helps establish GPRC5D as a validated late-line myeloma target.
Delgocitinib (Anzupgo) Becomes First-in-Class Topical JAK Inhibitor for Chronic Hand Eczema in the UK
In dermatology, NICE has issued a landmark recommendation for delgocitinib, marketed as Anzupgo, approving it as a new treatment option for moderate-to-severe chronic hand eczema when topical corticosteroids are inadequate or inappropriate.
This makes delgocitinib the first and only topical therapy specifically approved in the UK for this debilitating condition. NICE estimates 62,000 adults in England and Wales will be eligible for treatment through specialist services.
Chronic hand eczema is often misunderstood, yet deeply burdensome limiting mobility, manual function, and the ability to perform routine tasks. Current options are limited, and many patients rely on phototherapy or systemic treatments associated with significant side effects.
Delgocitinib inhibits four JAK enzymes, reducing inflammation, itching, pain, and improving daily functioning. The recommendation is based on results from DELTA 1, 2, 3, and DELTA FORCE, which demonstrated superior outcomes versus alitretinoin and vehicle cream. NICE noted the treatment’s potential to reduce reliance on phototherapy, which may also lower NHS resource usage.
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The committee emphasized equitable care, urging clinicians to consider how disease severity presents differently across skin tones a rare, explicit inclusion that drew praise from patient groups.
Professor Richard Warren described the recommendation as “a pivotal moment,” highlighting long-standing gaps in effective therapies. The National Eczema Society called the approval “a brilliant outcome” for people whose daily lives are severely affected.