NRAS statement - Nice approves the use of

Mabthera (rituximab) 03 July 2007

22/08/07: NRAS

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society welcomes the approval by NICE of rituximab (MabThera) for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) is delighted to announce today, 22 August 2007, that NICE has approved the use of rituximab (MabThera) for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis.

This news is most welcome and we would like to thank NICE for giving people in England and Wales with severe rheumatoid a treatment option if their existing anti-TNF drug fails.

Lynn Love, Director of Operations at NRAS, comments:

“This is extremely good news for people in England and Wales with severe rheumatoid arthritis. It means people who have failed on anti-TNF treatments, now have the option of rituximab (MabThera) which has a different mode of action and offers the opportunity of improvement in their quality of life”

Click here to read the NICE press release on the use of rituximab.

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About NRAS:

• The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) was launched in October 2001 and in a relatively short time has become established as the campaigning voice in the UK for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
• NRAS provides a total one-stop-shop with support, information and advocacy for all people in the UK with RA, their carers and families.
• NRAS has a national volunteer network, a group of people with the disease who provide peer to peer support and provide additional resource to help NRAS in many different ways.