Advice

Following a full submission

thalidomide (Thalidomide Pharmion) is accepted for use within NHS Scotland in combination with melphalan and prednisone, as first line treatment of patients with untreated multiple myeloma, aged 65 years or over or ineligible for high dose chemotherapy.

Thalidomide is prescribed and dispensed according to the Thalidomide Pharmion Pregnancy Prevention Programme.

In the pivotal trial in patients aged 65 to 75 years, at 51.5 months median follow-up, the addition of thalidomide to melphalan and prednisone gave an overall survival advantage of 18.4 months.

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Medicine details

Medicine name:
thalidomide (Pharmion)
SMC ID:
525/08
Indication:
In combination with melphalan and prednisone as first line treatment of patients with untreated multiple myeloma, aged ≥65 years or ineligible for high dose chemotherapy
Pharmaceutical company
Celgene Ltd
BNF chapter
Malignant disease and immunosuppression
Submission type
Full
Status
Superseded
Date advice published
12 January 2009
Additional notes

NICE MTA Advice: SMC Advice is superseded by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Multiple Technology Appraisal (MTA)