On World AML Awareness Day, Cure Leukaemia announced two pioneering clinical trials, EVOLVE 1 and 2, marking a significant step forward in the treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). Funded through the charity’s Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) network, these trials aim to provide new treatment options for AML patients worldwide, particularly those unable to undergo conventional chemotherapy.
The TAP network, supported by Cure Leukaemia’s fundraising efforts, facilitates international collaboration and cutting-edge research. The EVOLVE trials, developed in partnership with the Dutch haematology trials group HOVON, target AML patients with limited treatment options. Professor Paresh Vyas, Professor of Haematology at the University of Oxford, highlighted their significance, stating: “We are on the cusp of launching two EVOLVE trials in collaboration with HOVON, targeting AML patients who cannot undergo chemotherapy – a group for whom treatment options remain limited.”
In addition to the EVOLVE trials, a new intensive chemotherapy trial is scheduled to open later this year at five TAP centres across the UK, with plans to expand to further centres by the end of 2026. Professor Vyas noted: “This marks a major advancement in personalising care for AML patients across the spectrum of need.” These developments underscore the TAP network’s role in accelerating access to innovative treatments.
Cure Leukaemia’s funding of research nurses at 15 TAP centres across the UK is central to these advancements. The charity’s support enables rapid delivery of clinical trials, fostering global collaboration. Professor Charlie Craddock CBE, a leading figure in AML research, emphasised the importance of this work: “The funding of clinical trials is the engine room of progress for AML patients. Cure Leukaemia’s support of the TAP network ensures we can rapidly deliver innovative treatments to those who urgently need them. It’s this international collaboration that will transform outcomes for blood cancer patients across the globe.”
The Tour 21 event, where amateur cyclists ride all 21 stages of the Tour de France one week ahead of the professionals, is a primary funding source. The event has drawn participants from diverse backgrounds, including AML patients like Roy Lowenberg from Israel, who will join the Tour 21 2025 team. Lowenberg shared his motivation: “Riding the Tour de France is my way of giving back – to help more people like me get the second chance they deserve.”
The VICTOR trial, active across 47 hospitals in the UK, Denmark, and New Zealand, offers patient-friendly, remote treatment options. Nick, an AML patient from Bristol, benefited from this trial, thanks to Cure Leukaemia-funded research nurses. He said: “Thanks to the support of Cure Leukaemia-funded research nurses, I was able to join the VICTOR trial. It’s meant I could receive cutting-edge treatment and still be at home with my family – that’s been life-changing.”
World AML Awareness Day highlights the global impact of Cure Leukaemia’s work. By connecting researchers, clinicians, and patients across borders, the TAP network is driving measurable progress. The charity’s investment in trials like EVOLVE 1 and 2, alongside ongoing studies like VICTOR, is paving the way for improved outcomes for AML patients.
