{"id":81556,"date":"2026-01-14T00:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T00:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/first-leukaemia-patient-to-get-pioneering-drug-on-nhs-says-it-is-very-sci-fi\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T00:12:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T00:12:00","slug":"first-leukaemia-patient-to-get-pioneering-drug-on-nhs-says-it-is-very-sci-fi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=81556","title":{"rendered":"First leukaemia patient to get pioneering drug on NHS says it is ‘very sci-fi’"},"content":{"rendered":"
Oscar Murphy has now finished his CAR-T therapy and is hopeful for his future<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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The first leukaemia patient to receive a breakthrough treatment since it was made available on the NHS has said it was “fantastic” and “very sci-fi”.<\/p>\n
Oscar Murphy, 28, who has an aggressive form of the blood cancer, was given the “living drug”, called CAR-T therapy, at Manchester Royal Infirmary.<\/p>\n
BBC News was present on 2 January when Oscar received the first of two infusions of his own immune cells, which had been genetically modified to recognise and target his cancer.<\/p>\n
NHS England has agreed to fund the immunotherapy at several centres across the country. About 50 NHS patients a year are likely to benefit from it. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Oscar was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-cell ALL) in March 2025.<\/p>\n
He underwent chemotherapy and a donor stem cell transplant in July but in November was told that his cancer had returned.<\/p>\n
“The leukaemia I’ve got is so fast-acting,” the car salesman from Bury said. “It needs an even quicker response to stop it. And we’ve now got an answer for that.”<\/p>\n
In a clinical trial, 77% of patients went into remission after treatment, with half showing no signs of cancer after three and a half years. <\/p>\n
On average, the treatment gave patients 15.6 additional months of life.<\/p>\n
Oscar’s haematologist, Dr Eleni Tholouli, said the CAR-T therapy was safer than existing treatments, with fewer side-effects and much more effective.<\/p>\n
“Usually, this type of leukaemia is very aggressive and adult patients don’t live beyond six to eight months. With this therapy, we are able to offer them years and potentially a cure.<\/p>\n
“It’s very significant and is revolutionising the way we tackle this cancer.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Family handout<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Oscar married Lauren in hospital last month because of the uncertainty surrounding his treatment<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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CAR-T therapy has been available on the NHS for several years for certain types of leukaemia and lymphoma but has only now been extended to adults with B-cell ALL.<\/p>\n
Last month, Oscar had T-cells – a type of white blood cell – removed and sent to a lab in Stevenage.<\/p>\n
The cells were then reprogrammed using a harmless virus to introduce a genetic sequence that enables them to identify the cancer.<\/p>\n
New surface receptors can then recognise and are able to attach to cancer cells – like a lock and key – and mark them for destruction.<\/p>\n
They become “chimeric antigen receptor T-cells” – or CAR T-cells – and their numbers are greatly expanded in the lab to make millions of copies.<\/p>\n
Oscar’s personalised treatment, or living drug, was cryopreserved and sent to Manchester Royal Infirmary.<\/p>\n
The tiny bag containing Oscar’s personalised treatment held 100 million CAR T-cells in just three teaspoons of liquid, and it took only a few minutes to infuse into his bloodstream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Oscar said he was surprised the treatment could pack such a powerful punch in such a small dose. <\/p>\n
“It’s very sci-fi, but if it means it gets rid of the cancer permanently and my own cells can do it it’s just fantastic.”<\/p>\n
Oscar had a second infusion of 300 million cells yesterday, marking the end of his CAR-T treatment.<\/p>\n
As this is a “living drug”, the cancer-killing T-cells stay in the body for a long time and will continue to grow and work inside the patient after the final infusion.<\/p>\n
The CAR-T therapy is manufactured by Autolus, a spin-out company from University College London.<\/p>\n
During clinical trials, the patient’s cells had to be sent to laboratories in the US.<\/p>\n
The list price of the treatment is \u00a3372,000 per infusion, but the NHS has a confidential discount.<\/p>\n
It will be available to patients over the age of 26 whose B-cell ALL has not responded to treatment or has returned at several centres in England, including Cambridge, Newcastle, Sheffield, Plymouth and London. <\/p>\n
Patients from Wales and Northern Ireland will need to travel to England for treatment. It has not yet been approved in Scotland.<\/p>\n
NHS England estimates that around 50 patients a year may benefit, but Tholouli told the BBC she believed it could be more, and predicted it would eventually be used as a first-line treatment instead of stem cell transplantation.<\/p>\n
Prof Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, said it was a “landmark moment” for people with aggressive blood cancer.<\/p>\n
He added it was “remarkable” the treatment now delivered at NHS centres had been developed from scientific research within the UK.<\/p>\n
“It will help more people like Oscar live longer and healthier lives.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Chris Williams had the treatment during its experimental phase and has been in remission for nearly three years<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n
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Chris Williams, 29, from Belfast was diagnosed with the same aggressive type of leukaemia as Oscar in 2021.<\/p>\n
When the cancer returned, he was given the CAR-T therapy in Manchester when it was still an experimental treatment. He has now been in remission for nearly three years.<\/p>\n
“A few years ago I was very unwell and now I’m able to live a full life. I was able to go back to work. I also met Chloe and now we’re engaged.<\/p>\n
“I have fantastic support from my family and they are over the moon.”<\/p>\n
Oscar and his fiance Lauren were married at Manchester Royal Infirmary last month.<\/p>\n
He told the BBC he wanted to “get it done” because of the uncertainties surrounding his condition, but the couple have another ceremony booked for October.<\/p>\n
“I want children and the white picket fence with my amazing wife – I just want that normality. This is my gateway to doing it and I can’t wait.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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