New drug for psoriatic arthritis given thumbs up

People in the EU who have psoriatic arthritis will be able to access ustekinumab (Stelara) following its approval by the regulatory body the European Commission.

Ustekinumab can be used alone or in combination with methotrexate in the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adults who have not responded to treatment with non-biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Stelara is the first in a new class of biologics for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Trials showed it improved symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis and had a positive safety profile.

“It gives those people in whom anti-TNF therapy is not effective another welcome drug option,” says a spokesperson from Arthritis Research UK.