NICE TO REASSESS DATA FOR
SWITCHING ANTI-TNF TREATMENTS
FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL
APPEAL
12/06/07: NRAS
Statement from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
NICE TO REASSESS DATA FOR SWITCHING ANTI-TNF TREATMENTS FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL
APPEAL
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society welcomes the upholding of Appeal
against NICE Final Appraisal Document.
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) welcomes the decision by the
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), made today, to reassess the
data which would allow patients with rheumatoid arthritis to switch from one
Anti-TNF drug to another on the grounds of efficacy. The decision of NICE to
reassess the data comes following a successful campaign by NRAS and five other
organisations who appealed against the NICE Final Appraisal Document published
earlier this year.
NICE had previously ruled that patients should not be allowed to switch from
one Anti-TNF (Adalimumab, Etanercept and Infliximab for the treatment of
rheumatoid arthritis) to another on the grounds of inefficacy despite the fact
that many rheumatoid arthritis sufferers in the UK find this to be beneficial.
Over time some patients find that whichever Anti-TNF they have been taking
becomes less effective and have found benefit from being able to switch to
another Anti-TNF. This practice is common among Consultant Rheumatologists
managing patients with RA and has been under threat since NICE's decision
earlier in the year.
The Appraisal Committee will now reassess the evidence for the
cost-effectiveness of a second Anti-TNFa and the current guidance, which allows
switching, will stand. This is a relief for many of the 400,000 people who are
living with rheumatoid arthritis in the UK.
Ailsa Bosworth, NRAS Chief Executive comments:-
“This news is most welcome and we would like to thank the Appeal Panel for
taking all our arguments into careful consideration before arriving at this
sensible and fair decision.
NRAS would like to thank the many hundreds of its members and supporters for
signing the petition which was submitted to NICE as part of our Appeal.”