Draft guidance recommends new treatments for spine arthritis

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released final draft guidance for treatments of inflammatory arthritis of the spine.
Under the guidance, treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis would be with:
• Anti-TNF therapies: adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade);
• Biosimilars: Inflectra and Remsima, certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) and golimumab (Simponi).

So the guidance reaffirms adalimumab, etanercept and golimumab as treatment options for adults with ankylosing spondylitis. And it now endorses infliximab and certolizumab pegol as new options for adults with ankylosing spondylitis.

Furthermore, adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis now have adalimumab, certolizumab pegol and etanercept as provisional recommendations.

“Both these conditions are irreversible and can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort and have a significant negative impact on quality of life,” explains Prof Carole Longson from NICE. “We are therefore pleased to be able to recommend, for the first time, treatment options for adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, as well as adding infliximab and certolizumab pegol to the list of clinically and cost-effective treatment options for adults with ankylosing spondylitis.”

Next step
Key stakeholders are considering the draft guidance and a final version is expected soon.

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