NRAS statement - NICE does not recommend

use of abatacept (Orencia)26 October 2007 for

people with severe rheumatoid arthritis

26/10/07: NRAS

Statement from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

“Raw Deal for People with Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis” says National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS)

NICE does not recommend use of abatacept (Orencia) for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis

The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) has heard today that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) will not reconsider its recommendation not to prescribe abatacept (Orencia) for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of NRAS, comments:

“We strongly believe that this is the wrong decision for people living with severe rheumatoid arthritis in the UK and a potential step backwards in the management of the condition.

These patients will have already tried other treatments for rheumatoid arthritis, such as anti-TNF therapy or rituximab, and failed on them over time. To deny patients abatacept is to deny people with a very aggressive and severe form of rheumatoid arthritis one more chance at controlling the disease and condemn them to a life of pain and disability.

There is no acceptable alternative for patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have tried and failed the other biologic therapy options. They must either be put back onto treatments they have already failed on, or receive palliative care, taking large doses of steroids with extremely unacceptable side effects such as osteoporosis when given over the long term.

From a cost perspective, this is a relatively small number of patients (3,500) and only those who attain sufficient benefit would remain on treatment. If there is no response then treatment can be stopped very quickly so minimising cost.

Not only is this decision not in the interests of patients, it is not in the interests of health service budgets. Palliative care and the burden of ongoing disability will result in significantly greater costs for the NHS than a treatment which can make a significant difference to the quality of life of people with severe rheumatoid arthritis.”

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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.

Case studies are available

For more information, please contact:

Lynn Love, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

Tel: 0845 458 3969

Or

Jon Pike, Press Officer for NRAS

Tel: 07989 850 195