Drug added to NHS to treat rare leukaemia

A medicine that helps to improve the quality of life for patients with an aggressive form of leukaemia has been approved for use by the NHS in Scotland.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Gemtuzumab ozogamicin, also known as Mylotarg, for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).

The decision came after the drug was considered for use through the SMC’S patient engagement process, which is used for medicines that treat end-of-life and very rare conditions.

Fatigue, bleeding and frequent infections are some of the symptoms associated with AML.

The initial treatment until now has been intensive chemotherapy.