New treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis received provisional UK recommendation
A treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis has been recommended for NHS use in draft guidelines by the health regulator, The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
If finalised this will mean thousands of people with severe forms of rheumatoid arthritis will have a wider range of therapy options available to them.
Certolizumab pegol is also known under the brand name Cimzia and is already recommended by NICE for treating cases of severe rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded to intensive therapy with a combination of conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
However, NICE’s new guidance extends the number of people who can be considered for treatment and now recommends certolizumab pegol for use after anti-TNFs have already been tried, and when rituximab is not a viable option.
NICE provisional guidelines say that treatment with the drug should be continued only if there is a moderate response after six months; if not, the drug should be withdrawn. The drug manufacturer’s willingness to provide the therapy at a discounted rate through a patient access scheme also influenced the recommendation
Prof Carole Longson, director of the centre for health technology evaluation at NICE, says “NICE already recommends a number of drugs as possible options for severe rheumatoid arthritis after treatment with a TNF inhibitor has failed and where rituximab is not an option.
“We hope that adding certolizumab pegol to this list will mean that people with severe rheumatoid arthritis will be able to manage their condition more effectively so they can lead as full and active a life as possible.”
For more in-depth features, interviews and information, subscribe to Arthritis Digest magazine, a popular title that’s published six times a year. Click here for the digital version or tel 0845 643 8470 to order your had copy. You’ll know what your doctor is talking about, what new drugs are in the pipeline and be up to date on helpful products.
