New childhood arthritis therapies recommended in draft NICE guidance
A number of new juvenile idiopathic arthritis therapies have been provisionally recommended by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for use within the NHS.
The final draft guidance says that abatacept (Orencia), adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel) and tocilizumab (RoActemra) will be endorsed as an option for children and young people with arthritis.
The four drugs are disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which are designed to reduce or stop joint damage by slowing or halting disease activity. They are licensed for use where previous treatment has not been tolerated or has generated an inadequate response.
In cases when more than one of these drugs is suitable, it will be recommended that treatment be started with the least expensive option.
“The committee heard there is a link between the length of time the disease remains uncontrolled and the amount of joint damage and growth impairment,” says Prof Carole Longson from NICE. “They also heard that being able to access effective treatments at an early stage of the disease can help improve long-term outcomes.”
The provisional guidance is open for consultation, so that stakeholders can offer their opinions on the recommendations before a final decision is reached in early 2016. Dr Katherine Free from Arthritis Research UK comments:
“There are around 15,000 young people in the UK living with juvenile idiopathic arthritis – arthritis does not just occur later on in life. It’s a condition that causes painful, swollen joints and increased tiredness. We welcome NICE’s provisional decision to recommend a number of new therapies for young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis on the NHS.
“Biologics are already one of the main treatments for people with inflammatory arthritis. However, fewer of these drugs are currently approved for use in children. It is encouraging that further steps are being taken to improve the quality of life for younger people affected by arthritis. The earlier that juvenile idiopathic arthritis is identified and treated, the better opportunity there will be to avoid damage to joints.”
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Image credit: Lisa Redfern
