Overview
- Oscar Murphy, 28, became the first NHS recipient of obe‑cel CAR‑T for B‑cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, receiving infusions on January 2 and January 13 at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
- He told BBC Breakfast he feels fine and hopeful about returning to normal life after completing the two‑dose course given ten days apart.
- Trial data reported 77% of patients achieved remission, about half were disease‑free at three and a half years, and average survival increased by 15.6 months.
- Consultant haematologist Dr Eleni Tholouli said adults with this aggressive leukaemia often survive only six to eight months without the therapy, which can offer years and potentially a cure.
- NHS rollout follows NICE approval for adults aged 26 and over, with an initial capacity of around 50 patients a year and some patients traveling to English centres as Scotland has not yet approved the treatment.