Arsenic trioxide for treating acute promyelocytic leukaemia

Arsenic trioxide (Trisenox, Teva) is indicated for 'the induction of remission, and consolidation in adults with:

• newly diagnosed low-to-intermediate risk acute promyelocytic leukaemia (white blood cell count ≤10x10³ per microlitre) in combination with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)

• relapsed/refractory acute promyelocytic leukaemia (previous treatment should have included a retinoid and chemotherapy)
  
  characterised by the presence of the t(15;17) translocation and/or the presence of the PML/RAR-alpha gene'.

The dosage schedule is available in the summary of product characteristics.

The price of arsenic trioxide is £2,920 for 10 ampoules of 10 mg/10 ml concentrate for solution for infusion (excluding VAT, BNF online accessed March 2018). Costs may vary in different settings because of negotiated procurement discounts.