Oscar Murphy, a 28-year-old man diagnosed with a common form of leukaemia, has become the first patient on the NHS to receive a pioneering new CAR-T therapy for his specific condition, B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL). Mr. Murphy described receiving this 'living drug', which is crafted from a genetically modified version of his own immune cells, as 'fantastic… very sci-fi'. This groundbreaking treatment, also known as 'obe-cel', involves extracting a patient's T-cells, which are part of the body's immune system, and reprogramming them in a laboratory. These cells are spliced with a harmless virus and given a genetic sequence that enables them to identify and specifically target cancer cells, before being reintroduced to the body as 'living medicine'. Scientists cultivate millions of these 'chimeric antigen receptor T-cells' (CAR-T cells) under controlled laboratory conditions to create a potent therapeutic dose.

B-cell ALL is a fast-growing blood cancer where the bone marrow produces an excessive number of immature B-cells, or blasts, which are incapable of fighting infection and consequently crowd out healthy cells. It is the most common type of ALL, with typical symptoms including fatigue, frequent infections, and easy bruising. While it is most commonly diagnosed in children, the CAR-T therapy, which has been available on the NHS for several years for certain types of leukaemia and lymphoma, has only recently been extended to adults with B-cell ALL. Oscar Murphy's treatment marks the first instance of this therapy being administered outside a clinical trial for adult B-cell ALL patients.

Mr. Murphy's journey with B-cell ALL began with his diagnosis in March 2025, followed by chemotherapy and a donor stem cell transplant in July. However, in November of the same year, the car salesman from Bury received the devastating news that his cancer had returned. Faced with an aggressive, fast-acting leukaemia, Mr. Murphy expressed the urgent need for an equally quick and effective response. The CAR-T therapy proved to be that answer, offering a 'real hope' for curing certain types of cancer and a chance to live free from cancer for longer. He was first administered the drug on January 2 at Manchester Royal Infirmary, one of the specialist centres selected by NHS England to deliver this treatment, receiving his second and final dose ten days later, intravenously.

The process of preparing the 'living drug' for Mr. Murphy involved removing his T-cells and sending them to a lab in Stevenage. There, these cells were expertly modified to become CAR-T cells, capable of seeking out and destroying cancer. After approximately 100 million of Mr. Murphy's reprogrammed CAR-T cells had been cultivated, they were frozen and transported back to Manchester medics as just three teaspoons worth of liquid. Upon preparation, the infusion into his bloodstream took only a few minutes, allowing the specialized cells to immediately begin their work.

This advanced treatment is estimated to benefit around 50 eligible patients each year, offering a significant breakthrough in cancer care, described by one boss as 'hope for a cure'. Clinical trials have shown remarkable efficacy, with 77 per cent of patients achieving remission after treatment, and half showing no signs of cancer after three and a half years. On average, the therapy extended patients' lives by an additional 15.6 months. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS National Clinical Director for Cancer, highlighted the therapy's potential, stating it could give patients with this aggressive leukaemia a chance for a longer, cancer-free life, and for some, the hope of a cure. Dr. Eleni Tholouli, Mr. Murphy's haematologist, emphasized the therapy's profound significance, noting that this aggressive leukaemia typically leaves adult patients with a life expectancy of six to eight months, whereas this treatment offers years and potentially a cure, revolutionising the approach to this cancer.

The treatment will be available to individuals aged 26 and over living with B-cell ALL that has either returned or not responded to previous treatments, following approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. While patients from Wales and Northern Ireland will need to travel to England for treatment, it has not yet received approval in Scotland.