A new cancer drug, described as far less toxic than chemotherapy, is offering a gentler treatment option for children with a form of leukemia in the UK. The drug, blinatumomab or Blincyto, can be administered at home and has been shown to effectively target cancer cells without the severe side effects associated with traditional chemotherapy. The treatment is currently not widely available for children on the NHS, but its success in cases like 11-year-old Arthur’s provides hope for its future use.
- The new cancer drug, blinatumomab (Blincyto), is being used as an alternative to chemotherapy for children with a specific form of leukemia in the UK.
- Blinatumomab is less toxic than chemotherapy and can be administered at home, allowing for a more comfortable treatment process.
- The drug works by helping the body’s immune cells to identify and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed.
- One of the first UK children to receive this treatment, Arthur, has been cancer-free for almost a year after chemotherapy failed to eliminate the disease.
- The treatment has the potential to be a game-changer for children who struggle with the side effects of chemotherapy.
- Although Blincyto is already used in adults, it is not yet widely available for children on the NHS, but there is hope for broader access in the future.
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