NICE recommends golimumab for psoriatic arthritis
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has today issued final guidance recommending golimumab (Simponi) for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Golimumab joins a list of treatment options already recommended by NICE for this condition.
The guidance recommends golimumab as an option for treating active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults if it is used as described for the other tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor treatments – etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab – covered by NICE technology appraisal 199(1.). The recommendation of golimumab is also on the condition that the manufacturer provides the 100 mg dose of golimumab to the NHS at the cost of the 50 mg dose, as agreed by the manufacturer and the Department of Health as part of a patient access scheme.
Dr Carole Longson, Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director at NICE, said: “We’re pleased to recommend golimumab as another option for treating psoriatic arthritis, a condition that can cause significant distress and psychological impact on an individual’s life, employment and social activities. We recognise that patients may welcome the option of a self-injectable treatment administered once a month.
“We have already recommended three TNF inhibitor treatments for psoriatic arthritis that has not responded to first-line treatment, and golimumab is a welcome addition.”
The guidance ‘Golimumab for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis’ is available at: http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA220.
The direct link to the understanding NICE version of the guidance written specifically for patients, their families or carers and the public is at http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13441/54172/54172.pdf. Free copies of the guidance can be requested by calling 0845 003 7783 or emailing publications@nice.org.uk and quoting reference N2520.
References:
1. NICE TA 199 recommends adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis when the person has peripheral arthritis with three or more swollen joints, and when the psoriatic arthritis has not responded to adequate trials of at least two standard disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), administered either individually or in combination. NICE TA 199 specifies that treatment should be with the least expensive drug, taking into account drug administration costs, required dose and product price per dose. This guidance is available at http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TA199.
Article written and supplied by The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Last Reviewed: 16 June 2011
Next Review Date: 5 May 2013
