A treatment for the most common form of leukaemia in the UK has been recommended by NICE.

MabThera (rituximab) will now be available in combination with chemotherapy drugs fludarabine and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Following an appeal earlier this year, MabThera can also be used by patients who have previously used the drug during a clinical trial, or in combination with other chemotherapy drugs in trials, at a lower dose.

Despite the recommendation, NICE confirmed it will continue to research MabThera.

“We want to ensure rituximab is routinely available in the NHS for those patients who may benefit most from it, including those who had already been treated with the drug during a clinical trial but at a lower dose than usual or in combination with other chemotherapy regimens,” said Clinical and Public Health Director at NICE Professor Peter Littlejohns.

“Where rituximab has been recommended in the context of research, this is because of a lack of evidence relating to the treatment’s efficacy in those instances. Hopefully, there will be more research in these areas to help NICE develop firmer recommendations when this guidance is updated.”

Approximately 2,400 people are diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the UK each year.