There is ‘real hope’ for extended survival and a better quality of life for patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) following the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s (SMC) decision to approve Ripretinib (Qinlock®) for use within NHS Scotland.
Charities Sarcoma UK and GIST Cancer UK have today (Monday 11 August) welcomed the SMC’s decision to approve the treatment for use for advanced GIST patients, which is a rare type of cancer of the digestive system and bowel.
Ripretinib, developed by Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, will provide a crucial fourth-line treatment option for GIST patients after they have exhausted the currently available three lines of therapy (imatinib, sunitinib and regorafenib).
Clinical evidence indicates that Ripretinib can both extend life and improve quality of life for patients, with reduced side-effects compared to existing treatments.
This reverses a decision made by the SMC in March not to approve Ripretinib for use by NHS Scotland. The SMC’s primary reason then for rejecting the treatment was cost effectiveness, stating that Deciphera’s ‘justification of the treatment’s cost in relation to its health benefits was not sufficient’. The new decision follows a fast-track resubmission by Deciphera.
Both charities had actively participated in the SMC’s appraisal process, submitting written evidence about patient experiences and testifying in person during assessment meetings. Following the SMC’s decision in March, they called for urgent action from the government and pharmaceutical industry.
‘We are delighted that the SMC has reconsidered this decision, which is excellent news for GIST patients in Scotland who have limited treatment options after progressing through the three currently approved therapies,’ said Richard Davidson, Chief Executive of Sarcoma UK.
‘Ripretinib offers real hope for extended survival with fewer side-effects. After exhausting existing treatments, these patients may have on average just weeks to live. This treatment can provide both extended survival and improved quality of life for patients with a rare cancer like GIST.’
David Lane, 62, from Aberdeen, has had GIST for eight years. He supported the application process as a patient and trustee of GIST Cancer UK and said: ‘People with GISTs experience significant challenges with existing treatments, including severe side-effects that often require dose reductions, treatment resistance that develops over time, and disease progression. Knowing there is a new and effective fourth-line treatment available will help give people with a GIST diagnosis more hope than having to rely solely on the limited treatment that has existed for now.’
Sarcoma UK’s 2020 National Sarcoma Survey found that 95% of GIST patients reported that their diagnosis and treatment negatively affected their mental health and emotional wellbeing. A fourth-line treatment option will provide not just physical benefits but crucial psychological support in knowing further options exist.
GIST is the most common form of soft tissue sarcoma, with approximately forty-three people diagnosed in Scotland each year. These tumours develop in the gastrointestinal tract and can cause symptoms including fatigue, pain and bleeding.
Ripretinib was approved for medical use in the United States and Australia in 2020 and in the European Union in 2021. While it was not approved by NICE in 2023, the company has since resubmitted the drug to NICE for review.
