Bleomycin
Bleomycin is the 'B' in BEP for testicular cancer and ABVD for Hodgkin lymphoma; its unique danger is scarring of the lungs, so lung function is monitored and it is often dropped when safe.
Approved 1973. BEP (testicular; omitted in EP for good-risk patients with lung risk), ABVD (Hodgkin; omitted after negative interim PET in RATHL), Kaposi sarcoma (bleomycin-vincristine in Africa), sclerotherapy of lymphatic malformations and pleurodesis, electrochemotherapy for cutaneous tumours. Cumulative dose limit ~400 units; pulmonary toxicity 10%, fatal in 1-2%.
- Medicare
- Part B (clinician-administered)
Given by infusion or injection in a clinic or hospital outpatient department, so it is a Part B drug: Medicare pays 80% after the Part B deductible and the patient owes 20% coinsurance, uncapped in Original Medicare unless a Medigap policy applies. Generic.
- Commercial insurance
- covered on label
Multi-source generic; covered under the medical benefit without prior authorisation in most plans, as part of standard regimens.
Sources: Medicare.gov: Chemotherapy · Medicare.gov: Prescription drugs (outpatient, Part B). Not medical or financial advice; verify with your plan.
- Notes
- Long-established generic: never subject to a technology appraisal; funded routinely through hospital formularies and NHS England systemic anti-cancer therapy protocols.
- NHS England
- Routinely funded for the appraised indication (or via managed access)
Sources: NICE search: bleomycin. Funding decisions are indication-specific and change monthly; verify with NICE and your treating team.
Approvals
| Region | Year | Indication |
|---|---|---|
| US | 1973 | Squamous cell carcinomas, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, testicular carcinoma, malignant pleural effusion |
Trials
topRecruiting now (live from ClinicalTrials.gov)
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Latest papers
topQuery for this drug: (TITLE:"Bleomycin" OR ABSTRACT:"Bleomycin" OR TITLE:"Blenoxane" OR ABSTRACT:"Blenoxane") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Bleomycin, not a curated reading list.
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