Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol)

approved by NICE

Taken from NRAS magazine, Spring 2010

Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol) has been approved by NICE. This is really good news because it is the first RA treatment to receive positive guidance from NICE in more than two years and could make a big difference to people’s day to day lives.

Certolizumab pegol is an option for the treatment of adults with severe active RA. It is conditional on implementation of an RA Patient Access Scheme that the manufacturer of certolizumab pegol, UCB, has worked on with the Department of Health to provide. The scheme means UCB will make the new treatment available to all eligible RA patients free of charge for the first 12 weeks and so there is no cost to the NHS for people prescribed the drug for this time regardless of whether they respond to treatment or not. The scheme is feasible because in clinical studies, certolizumab pegol has demonstrated rapid treatment efficacy, with the majority of people responding to treatment within the first 12 weeks. 

Professor Peter Taylor, NRAS Medical Advisor and Professor in Experimental Rheumatology commented “Certolizumab pegol has been shown to rapidly improve patients’ symptoms and to significantly reduce the rate of progression of joint damage associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

This fast and lasting effect is important as it quickly improves function, reduces work disability and leads to a better quality of life for patients.”

Certolizumab pegol is available in an innovative pre-filled syringe. Its award winning packaging has been designed with the U.S. consumer products company OXO, maker of Good Grips®, in consultation with RA patients, taking into account the challenges faced when self-injecting medication, as painful or inflamed joints can limit dexterity.