WIREDGOV

Final guidance published today (Wednesday 24 February 2010) by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) means that another drug  - certolizumab pegol (Cimzia)  - can be considered for some people in England and Wales suffering with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease in which joints in the body become inflamed, causing pain, swelling and stiffness.  It often affects the small joints of the hands and the feet, and usually both sides equally and symmetrically.  Around 580,000 people in England and Wales have RA, and people of all ages can develop the disease.  Over twice as many women as men suffer from the condition.

Certolizumab pegol is a type of treatment known as a TNF (tumour necrosis factor) inhibitor.  It is recommended for the same use as the other TNF inhibitors - adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab, as outlined in existing NICE technology appraisal guidance 130. 

NICE’s decision to recommend the drug follows its request to the manufacturer, UCB Pharma, for more information on the drug’s clinical and cost-effectiveness. The manufacturer (UCB Pharma) will also provide the first 12 weeks of certolizumab pegol free for all patients starting treatment through a patient access scheme agreed with the Department of Health. Under the scheme, people will receive these first 12 weeks of therapy (currently 10 pre-loaded syringes of 200 mg each) of certolizumab pegol free of charge. The NHS will now have three months to start implementing this new guidance. 

Dr Carole Longson, Director, Health Technology Evaluation Centre said:  

"I am pleased that the independent Appraisal Committee has been able to make a positive recommendation for certolizumab pegol to be a treatment option for some patients.  The recommendations have been facilitated by the positive response of the manufacturer (UCB Pharma) in providing more detailed information on the clinical and cost effectiveness of its treatment, and by offering the patient access scheme.  Rheumatoid arthritis can be very painful and consequently, very debilitating, so I am sure this decision will be welcomed by all those affected by the disease."