Significant new drug news for PTLD (Post Transplant Lympho Disease)

Significant news from ICER (Institute for Clinical & Economic Review) in Boston concerning Epstein-Barr Virus Positive and Post Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD). I participated as a patient who had experienced PTLD ten years ago and went through the traditional R-Chop chemo route at Mayo. Yet to be approved by the FDA is an intravenous drug pioneered in Europe that takes a different route and, apparently, successful for some patients. It will be quite expensive though. Here's a link to the final report for anyone who is experiencing the symptoms or has a family member or friend with the diagnosis.

Synopsis

BOSTON, December 16, 2024 – The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) today released a Final Evidence Report assessing the comparative clinical effectiveness of tabelecleucel (“tab-cel”®, Pierre Fabre) for the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus positive post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV+ PTLD).

ICER’s report on this therapy was the subject of the November 2024 public meeting of the New England CEPAC, one of ICER’s three independent evidence appraisal committees.

“EBV+ PTLD is a rare and often fatal cancer associated with solid organ transplant and stem cell transplant,” said ICER’s Vice President of Research Foluso Agboola, MBBS, MPH. “Unfortunately, approximately half of EBV+ PTLD cases do not respond to initial treatment or relapse, resulting in a poor prognosis. The limited evidence on tabelecleucel suggests that it provides important clinical benefits in patients with relapsed refractory EBV+ PTLD, extending survival for patients who otherwise do not usually survive beyond a few weeks to months, with few harms.”