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Blake, Wm. The Vision of Christ. 1821.

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An 11-year-old with blood cancer was the first to benefit from a new drug treatment less toxic than chemotherapy.

Blina is an immunotherapy targeting cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, unlike chemotherapy. Arthur carried the treatment in a backpack, allowing freedom from the hospital. The treatment involves a bag of liquid connected to a vein, controlled by a battery-operated pump, making it portable.

Arthur experienced fewer side effects with blina, requiring hospital visits every four days for top-ups.

Blina is already used off-label for B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children in the UK and can replace up to 80% of chemotherapy.

Arthur's mother: “It was completely out of his control - we were living in a constant challenge as his body was getting hit by the drugs. We were curing him by making him feel worse - it's a very difficult thing to process. New Year was when we found out that the blina had worked and there was no residual cancer - and so that was just amazing and so we had double celebrations.”

Proffesor Ajay Vora, Consultant Paediatric Haematologist: “Blinatumomab is a gentler, kinder treatment.”