Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a blood cancer which in fit young adults is typically treated with intensive chemotherapy. While this is potentially curative, it is associated with significant side effects and the requirement for long hospital admissions. Infection is a major issue during AML treatment, as both the disease and the chemotherapy impair the immune system.
Early data suggested that COVID-19 is associated with a very high rate of death in AML patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy. Because of this, and the need for significant hospital resources to deliver intensive chemotherapy, the NHS made available two new, less intensive, targeted therapies for the treatment of AML during the COVID-19 pandemic - venetoclax and gilteritinib. The aim was to reduce mortality and healthcare resource use.
Many hundreds of patients across the UK have been treated with these two medications on the temporary access scheme. The research aims to collect de-identified data from treating patients to describe the outcomes of patients treated with these approaches, both in terms of the safety and effectiveness.
