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Publication Date: 23 April 2008
Following an unsuccessful appeal to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the drug abatacept has not been recommended for use by the NHS in England and Wales.
Abatacept, which has the brand name of Orencia, is a member of the biologic drug family that is licenced for people with rheumatoid arthritis whose condition has not responded to other treatments. It had been hoped that people with moderate to severe arthritis who had tried DMARDs and one other form of anti-TNF therapy without success would be able to move on to abatacept.
NICE, the independent body which decides which treatments should be recommended for use in the NHS, looked at the drug last year. After completing its process of examining available evidence and research, NICE announced that abatacept is not cost-effective and would not be recommended. An appeal was launched by the manufacturers and patient and professional groups to challenge this decision. An independent panel met on 31 March 2008 to consider the concerns raised by the appeal, but none were upheld.
“This appeal was a great hope for many people with rheumatoid arthritis whose condition has not responded to other forms of treatment,” said Arthritis Care’s Director of Public Affairs, Rachel Haynes.
“Without abatacept as a next step, people who have already tried an anti-TNF therapy with no success have limited treatment options. In the absence of effective choices, people with severe rheumatoid arthritis could be faced with a future of restricted mobility, pain and fewer opportunities for work. We will continue to push for access to effective treatment for all people with arthritis”.
For more information on the work of NICE, please visit their website at www.nice.org.uk
For more information on anti-TNF therapies, see our information booklet on Drugs and Complementary Therapies (opens PDF).
If you need support and information on this or any issue regarding your arthritis, please call our helpline on 0808 800 4050, open 10am-4pm weekdays.
