chat
9th June 2025
What’s the news?
If you or a loved one are living with acute graft versus host disease (aGvHD), we’re pleased to share that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) have both approved ruxolitinib as a treatment option. NICE approved the treatment in February, and the SMC have officially approved ruxolitinib as of today.
What this approval means for you
NICE and the SMCs approval makes ruxolitinib available for patients aged 12 and over through the NHS in England and Scotland. At the time of writing, Wales and Northern Ireland have yet to approve ruxolitinib but will likely follow suit.
Previously, there were a limited number of options for patients who do not respond well to existing treatment options available on the NHS, such as topical steroids, non-absorbable steroids, or systemic corticosteroids. Ruxolitinib is intended for this group of patients and offers an additional treatment option where there are currently limited alternatives.
Ruxolitinib can be taken at home in the form of a tablet which is an advantage compared to other existing treatments. This can reduce time spent in hospital, help patients avoid infection risk, and allow for patients to spend more time with their loved ones.
“The approval of ruxolitinib is a welcome development for patients with graft versus host disease” said Colin Dyer, CEO of Leukaemia Care. “There is a significant unmet need for patients with aGvHD who don’t respond well to existing treatment. Ruxolitinib offers an additional treatment option as well helping reduce the time spent at hospital for patients and their families”.
What is Ruxolitinib?
Ruxolitinib, marketed under the brand name Jakavi, works by inhibiting several pro-inflammatory cytokines that are involved in the development of aGvHD. By preventing these cytokines that are responsible for causing inflammation from working, ruxolitinib can help patients by reducing inflammation, tissue damage, and fibrosis.
Furthermore, ruxolitinib may prevent GvHD from progressing due to its ability to reduce the production of dendritic cells. This type of cell increases the body’s immune response and causes the immune system to overreact to the transplant, causing the GvHD.
Support from Leukaemia Care for this decision
Leukaemia Care submitted a joint response alongside charity Anthony Nolan advocating for ruxolitinib to be an option for you and your doctors. By sharing your experiences both in writing and in person, we helped highlight the need for improved access to therapies like ruxolitinib. Our ability to advocate for new treatments like this is only possible thanks to your engagement with surveys, advisory panels and stories, for which we are grateful.
Next steps after the approval of Ruxolinitib
Now that ruxolitinib has been approved, the next step is for the NHS to integrate it into clinical practice. The NHS is obligated to fund ruxolitinib in the new group of patients within 90 days of the decision being made public. This means that if you are eligible, your healthcare team will be able to discuss whether ruxolitinb is the right treatment for you and when you can have it.
Support services
If you or a loved one needs advice or support regarding your diagnosis, please get in touch. You can call our free helpline on 08088 010 444 and speak to one of our nurses. Alternatively, you can send a message to our team via WhatsApp on 07500 068 065 (services available Monday to Friday, 9am – 4:30pm).