In a remarkable breakthrough, the first adult patient in the UK has received a cutting-edge cancer therapy on the National Health Service (NHS). Oscar Murphy, a 28-year-old car salesman from Bury, has become the trailblazer for this revolutionary treatment, which is set to transform the lives of those battling an aggressive form of leukaemia.
Diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-cell ALL) in March 2025, Murphy underwent conventional chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, but his cancer returned in November. Faced with a dire prognosis, the young man was offered a glimmer of hope in the form of a “living drug” called CAR-T therapy.
This pioneering treatment involves harvesting the patient’s own immune cells, known as T-cells, and genetically modifying them to recognise and attack the cancer. On 2 January, Murphy received the first of two infusions of his personalised CAR-T cells at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, a process he described as “fantastic” and “very sci-fi.”
“The leukaemia I’ve got is so fast-acting,” Murphy said. “It needs an even quicker response to stop it. And we’ve now got an answer for that.”
In clinical trials, 77% of patients went into remission after receiving CAR-T therapy, with half showing no signs of cancer after three and a half years. On average, the treatment provided patients with an additional 15.6 months of life.
“Usually, this type of leukaemia is very aggressive and adult patients don’t live beyond six to eight months,” explained Murphy’s haematologist, Dr. Eleni Tholouli. “With this therapy, we are able to offer them years and potentially a cure. It’s very significant and is revolutionising the way we tackle this cancer.”
The NHS has agreed to fund the immunotherapy at several centres across England, with an estimated 50 patients per year set to benefit. While the list price of the treatment is £372,000 per infusion, the health service has negotiated a confidential discount.
Chris Williams, 29, from Belfast, was one of the first to receive the experimental CAR-T therapy and has been in remission for nearly three years. “A few years ago I was very unwell and now I’m able to live a full life,” he said. “I was able to go back to work. I also met Chloe and now we’re engaged.”
For Oscar Murphy, the treatment has been a game-changer, not only in his battle against cancer but also in his personal life. He married his fiancée, Lauren, in the hospital last month, determined to secure their future together. “I want children and the white picket fence with my amazing wife – I just want that normality. This is my gateway to doing it and I can’t wait,” he said.
As this pioneering therapy becomes more widely available, it offers a glimmer of hope to those facing the most aggressive forms of leukaemia, transforming lives and providing a path to a brighter future.
