Psoriatic arthritis drug recommended for use in the UK – decision reversal

A psoriatic arthritis therapy has been recommended for use in the UK by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), a reversal of its previous decision, and great news for people with psoriatic arthritis, giving them access to a greater choice of effective drugs.
The final guidance has been issued recommending ustekinumab (Stelara) for use alone or in combination with methotrexate for active psoriatic arthritis in adults in whom anti-TNFs have already been used, or if the use of these drugs is contraindicated.
Ustekinumab blocks the action of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23, proteins produced by white blood cells to regulate immune responses.
The guidance statement issued by NICE last month did not recommend the drug. But the drug’s manufacturer (Janssen) agreed to introduce a scheme that makes the product more cost-effective for the cash-strapped NHS.
Anti-TNF therapies already approved for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis in the UK include golimumab, adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab.
“This guidance resulting from the rapid review of TA313 now recommends that ustekinumab could be a treatment option for people who are unable to use the drugs that NICE has already recommended, or who have already had treatment with one or more of those drugs,” comments Prof Carole Longson from NICE. “This applies if the company provides the drug as agreed in the patient access scheme.”

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