Hematooncology - Polish patients with almost no access to targeted therapies in the first-line treatment

Meanwhile, the use of the most effective drugs at the earliest stage of treatment contributes to longer remission of the disease and may extend their survival.

The report was created on the initiative of HematoKoalicja, which included four patient organizations (Alivia Oncology Foundation, Wiesława Adamiec Carita Foundation, PARS - Polskie Amazonki Ruch Społeczny and OnkoCafe Foundation - Better Together), in cooperation with the research company HTA Registry. Its authors focused on patients with multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The survey presented in the report, which was conducted among patients with hematopoietic malignancies and their caregivers, shows that 32 percent. patients and 46 percent. their guardians decide to reduce their working hours. "Losses in earnings for all hematological patients due to the reduction in the number of full-time jobs amount to nearly 180 million annually" - emphasized Mariusz Kordecki from HTA Registry.

"We all care about the fact that the patient is diagnosed as soon as possible, and effective, high-quality treatment is introduced as soon as possible so that he can quickly return to the system" - commented Kordecki. The sooner a hemato-oncology patient is diagnosed and treated effectively, the lower the social costs of his disease will be.

The access to new drugs for patients with hematopoietic malignancies has been improving recently in Poland. From March 1, 2022, lenalidomide in the two- and three-drug regimen is reimbursed for first-line treatment for patients with multiple myeloma, and the daratumumab antibody is also available in a subcutaneous form. On the other hand, from November 2021, targeted therapy - venetoclax in combination with an antibody called obinutuzumab - is financed in the first line of treatment for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Polish haemat-oncology patients still hardly have access to effective targeted therapies in the first-line treatment. Meanwhile, in the world, thanks to the emergence of new drugs, traditional chemotherapy is being abandoned in favor of targeted therapies.

According to prof. Krzysztof Giannopoulos, head of the Department of Experimental Hematooncology at the Medical University of Lublin, the use of the most effective therapy from the first line of treatment allows to significantly extend the duration of remission. Thanks to this, and thanks to the availability of as many therapeutic options as possible, the patient's life can be significantly extended.

The latest report noted that myeloma patients do not have first-line access to daratumumab - an antibody directed against cancerous plasmacytes. It is effective in any line of treatment and can be used both in combination with various medications and as monotherapy.

“In multiple myeloma, we would definitely like to be able to use both carfilzomib and daratumumab more widely. At present (...) reimbursement conditions limit the use of these very valuable drugs. I hope it will change ”- commented prof. Iwona Hus from the Department of Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusiology in Warsaw.

In turn, prof. Giannopoulos assessed that in order to ensure optimal treatment of patients with high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia, the first line of therapy should be supplemented with drugs from the group of Bruton kinase inhibitors, such as ibrutinib and akalabrutinib.

“When it comes to access to innovative medical technologies, we are definitely two steps behind the western world. We want the most effective therapies to be implemented as soon as possible and that the therapeutic options are tailored to the needs of patients, doctors, and the entire system "- summed up Kordecki from the HTA Registry.