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News
Keep up to date with news relevant to specialised medicines and services
2020 Virtual UK Oncology Forum now fully available online
The recorded 2020 Virtual UK Oncology Forum is now fully available to view on the UK Oncology Forum virtual platform. This national, clinically focussed meeting was […]
New strategy to improve diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases
A new framework has been drawn up by the Department of Health and Social Care with the aim of improving the lives of people with […]
WHO updates COVID-19 treatment guideline
The World Health Organization coronavirus treatment guidelines have been updated with a recommendation on thromboprophylaxis to prevent coagulopathies such as stroke or thromboembolism. The new […]
Medicines Corner
Pharmacists from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust focus on some of the key issues and challenges related to the use of specialised medicines
Pharmacogenomic testing for DPYD polymorphisms prior to fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy
In November 2020, NHS England issued an urgent policy statement confirming the routine commissioning of pharmacogenomic testing prior to the initiation of fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy.1 This […]
Rituximab and eculizumab for delayed haemolytic transfusion reactions: low-quality evidence, but a life‑threatening scenario
In a recent commissioning policy, NHS England has commissioned eculizumab and rituximab for the management of delayed haemolytic transfusion reactions (DHTR) and hyperhaemolysis (HH), and rituximab […]
Histology-independent cancer drugs—navigating the uncertainties of innovative treatments
Significant advances in cancer therapy have been made in recent decades. The elucidation of specific aspects of tumour biochemistry and genetics has led to an […]