Tebentafusp approved for eligible patients with advanced uveal melanoma in Scotland

Ocular Melanoma UK has welcomed today’s decision by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to approve tebentafusp (Kimmtrak®) for eligible adults with advanced uveal melanoma.

The decision means tebentafusp is now available for prescribing on the NHS in Scotland for adults who are HLA-A*02:01 positive and have unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma, subject to the approved prescribing criteria. This was approved in England in December 2024, meaning that following this week’s announcement, eligible patients can now access tebentafusp through the NHS regardless of whether they live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, bringing consistency of access across the UK.

For patients and families, this is an important milestone.

Tebentafusp is an immunotherapy developed specifically for adults with HLA-A*02:01-positive unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma.

In reaching its decision, the SMC considered evidence showing that tebentafusp improved overall survival compared with current treatment options studied in the clinical trial. The medicine was assessed through the SMC’s process for orphan and end of life medicines, recognising both the rarity of uveal melanoma and the limited life expectancy associated with advanced disease.  

About Metastatic Uveal Melanoma

Uveal melanoma is a rare and serious type of eye cancer. While it’s the most common eye cancer in adults, it is still very uncommon overall. Sadly, up to half of people with uveal melanoma will go on to develop cancer that spreads to other parts of the body (metastatic disease). Advanced uveal melanoma was hard to treat and usually had a poor outlook. 

HLA-A02:01 is a specific genetic marker that some people have, and it plays a role in how the immune system works. If you’re “HLA-A02:01 positive,” it means you have this marker, which is needed for certain treatments, like Tebentafusp (Kimmtrak®), to work effectively. Around 40-50% of people in the UK have this marker, so not everyone with uveal melanoma will be able to use this treatment.

If you are not sure about your HLA status, your medical team can arrange a test to find out.

Our role

Ocular Melanoma UK was pleased to contribute to the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s Patient and Clinician Engagement (PACE) process, helping ensure that the experiences of people living with uveal melanoma, and those who care for them, were represented during the assessment. We were grateful to our friends at Melanoma Focus, who also supported the assessment process.

The SMC decision also recognises both Ocular Melanoma UK and Melanoma Focus as organisations providing support to people affected by uveal melanoma.

Every decision about access to new treatments should reflect not only the clinical evidence, but also the realities faced by patients and families living with a rare cancer.

Jo Gumbs, Founder and CEO of Ocular Melanoma UK, said:

“Today’s decision is a significant milestone for everyone affected by uveal melanoma in Scotland. After many years with very limited treatment options, the availability of tebentafusp offers renewed hope for eligible patients and marks an important step towards equitable access to care across the UK.

We are proud to have contributed the experiences of our patient community to the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s appraisal. Decisions like this are strongest when they reflect not only the clinical evidence, but also the lived experiences of the people and families affected. We are grateful to everyone who shared their experiences through our survey, helping ensure that the patient voice was heard.

This recommendation demonstrates what can be achieved when patients, charities, clinicians and industry work together towards a common goal. While there is still much to do to improve outcomes for people diagnosed with uveal melanoma, today is a moment to celebrate real progress. We look forward to continuing our work to ensure every person affected by this disease has access to the best possible treatment, care and support.”

Looking ahead

Today’s announcement is positive news for the ocular melanoma community and represents another important step towards improving treatment options for people diagnosed with advanced disease.

However, there remains an urgent need for continued research, earlier diagnosis, wider treatment options and equitable access to innovative therapies for everyone affected by ocular melanoma.

We will continue working with patients, clinicians, researchers and policy makers to help make that a reality.

Need support?

If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with ocular melanoma and would like information or support, Ocular Melanoma UK is here to help.

Visit our support pages or contact our team on 0300 790 0512.