Accord Healthcare launches thalidomide for multiple myeloma treatment

pharmafile | March 23, 2021 | News story | Manufacturing and Production |  MHRA, oncology 

Accord Healthcare has announced the UK launch of a generic thalidomide, which is used in combination with melphalan and prednisone, as a first line treatment for patients with untreated multiple myeloma.

The UK branch of Accord Healthcare has been granted Market Authorisation for thalidomide by the MHRA and will be prescribed according to the ‘Thalidomide Pregnancy Prevention Programme’, which is designed to prevent women of childbearing potential, or women whose male partner is taking thalidomide, from being exposed.   

Thalidomide is a powerful human teratogen, which means it can cause severe and life-threatening birth defects and must not be used during pregnancy, as just a single dose can induce a high frequency of severe and life-threatening birth defects.

Anup Sidhu, Speciality Brands Director at Accord, said: “Accord is committed to increasing access to high quality, cost effective medicines that have the potential to improve patient outcomes. We believe it is important to bring thalidomide to market.

“With this launch we hope to increase access and introduce price competitiveness to benefit both health systems and patients, while ensuring that this important medicine reaches patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma with a robust pregnancy prevention programme in place.”

Thalidomide has both immunomodulatory as well as anti-angiogenic properties, which have been proven to be effective in treating multiple myeloma. Patients aged 65 and under or those who are ineligible for high dose chemotherapy, will receive thalidomide as part of their treatment.

Approximately 24,000 people are living with multiple myeloma in the UK, the deadly cancer of the plasma cells has a typical survival rate of seven months without treatment, and four to five years with treatment.

Kat Jenkins