First NHS Patient Receives Innovative CAR-T Leukemia Treatment

Oscar Murphy, a 28-year-old with aggressive blood cancer, has become the first leukemia patient to receive CAR-T cell therapy since its introduction on the NHS. Describing the treatment as 'fantastic' and 'very sci-fi,' Oscar received his therapy at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The pioneering immunotherapy, known as CAR-T therapy, involves genetically modifying a patient’s immune cells to recognize and target cancer cells. Oscar was observed by BBC News on January 2nd as he received the initial infusion of these modified cells at the facility. NHS England is set to fund this therapy at several certified centers nationally, potentially benefiting around 50 NHS patients annually.

Oscar, a car salesman from Bury, was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-cell ALL) in March 2025. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and a donor stem cell transplant, his cancer re-emerged by November. He remarked, "The leukemia I've got is so fast-acting; it needs an even quicker response to stop it. And we've now got an answer for that." Clinical trials have shown promising outcomes, with 77% of patients reaching remission post-treatment and half remaining cancer-free after three and a half years. Dr. Eleni Tholouli, Oscar's haematologist, highlighted the therapy's enhanced safety and effectiveness compared to existing treatments, significantly extending patient lifespans or potentially leading to a cure.

This advanced form of CAR-T therapy is particularly new for adults with B-cell ALL. The process involves extracting T-cells from the patient and modifying them in a lab, where they are engineered using a harmless virus to hunt cancer cells. These cells are expanded to create millions of 'chimeric antigen receptor T-cells' or CAR T-cells. Upon returning to the patient, a small infusion comprises a powerful dose of these reprogrammed cells.

Receiving a second infusion of 300 million cells marked the completion of Oscar’s CAR-T treatment. These 'living drug' T-cells continue to thrive within the patient, offering ongoing cancer-fighting potential. The CAR-T treatment, manufactured by Autolus, costs £372,000 per infusion at list price, but benefits from an NHS discount for eligible recipients aged over 26, whose B-cell ALL has either resisted prior treatment or returned. Centers across England, including those in Cambridge, Newcastle, and London, are preparing for broader application.