On 17 July 2026 NHS England announced approval of two specialist treatments for rare blood cancers. The decisions, reached through the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group, mark another step in expanding access to precision therapies that address specific molecular drivers of disease.
Dabrafenib, taken as a tablet at home, blocks proteins that fuel the growth of histiocytic neoplasms. These rare cancers can strike infants, children and adults. Without effective intervention roughly one in ten high-risk children die within a year and around seven in ten adults within five years. The new option allows families to avoid prolonged hospital stays and maintain routines that matter most when time feels precious.
The combination of brentuximab vedotin and bendamustine has been cleared for patients aged eight and above with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma. It works by binding to a protein on the cancer cell surface and delivering a toxin directly inside. Clinical data show high remission rates, good tolerability and increased eligibility for stem cell transplants that can offer longer-term control.
Around 200 patients a year in England are expected to benefit. Both treatments began rolling out immediately. The approvals followed a prioritisation round in May 2026 and sit within the broader NHS 10 Year Cancer Plan focus on rare cancers.
Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, described the moment as significant for those affected. "This is a landmark moment for people with histiocytic neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma, giving them access to new treatment options they might not otherwise have had."
Professor James Palmer, National Medical Director for Specialised Services at NHS England, emphasised the potential reach. "These new treatments could be life-changing, and will offer hope to hundreds of children and adults affected by rare blood cancers who have not had success with other treatment options."
