New drug for patients with leukaemia is approved

A drug that reduces the chances of relapse for people with an aggressive type of leukaemia is to be made available in Scotland.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium say doctors can use Rydapt to treat patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Around a third of those with the condition have a cancer which carries a genetic mutation, giving them a poorer chance of survival. More than half of patients on a trial initially treated with Rydapt were alive four years after beginning chemotherapy, compared to 44 per cent of patients who underwent the treatment alone.

Dr Alasdair Rankin, director of research at cancer charity Bloodwise, said: “Today’s announcement is hugely positive news for people in Scotland who are diagnosed with this type of AML.”