Immunotherapy Treatment Will Be Available By The NHS For Mesothelioma Patients In England And Wales

Our Asbestos team is delighted to hear the news that the first immunotherapy treatment for 14 years is to be made available by the NHS for mesothelioma patients in England and Wales.

Mesothelioma UK, the national asbestos-related cancer charity, has welcomed the move that sees The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issue a Final Appraisal Document (FAD) recommending the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in England and Wales. The NICE committee also recommended extending the guidance of nivolumab plus ipilimumab to treat rarer forms of mesothelioma found in the lining of the heart and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is a cancer related to exposure to asbestos, and it is often diagnosed late, giving patients an average of less than a year's survival without treatment. The UK has the highest incidence of the disease in the world with around 2,700 people diagnosed each year, and exposure to asbestos in the workplace is responsible for more than 80 per cent of mesothelioma cases. We act for a number of sufferers and their families, working hard to secure them the financial support they need to access specialist care. So, we see the effect of this devastating disease upon so many.

We are very proud of the work we do to support people who have suffered a very broad range of injury and accident - everything from road traffic accidents, to accidents at work (such as asbestos exposure). Our team specialise in a broad range of injury, including catastrophic injuries such as head injuries and spinal injuries.

For more information or guidance, please contact our team at hello@jcpsolicitors.co.uk or call 03333 209244.