National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

welcome NICE decision adalimumab

(Humira) - 19 October 2007

24/10/07: NRAS

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society welcome NICE decision adalimumab (Humira)

NICE urged to reach positive decision for patients to switch Anti-TNF therapies

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) welcome the guidance by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), published today, which adds adalimumab (Humira) to the two other Anti-TNF drugs available for Rheumatoid Arthritis patients who have failed on two disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

Lynn Love, Director of Operations, comments;

“This is an important decision which will ensure all patients have access to adalimumab. In the past, some PCTs have allowed the use of this drug while others have been waiting for guidance from NICE. This guidance now clarifies that Humira should be equally accessible as the other Anti-TNF therapies, thus improving patient choice for effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis.”

NRAS Member Rosemary Cleaver, from Witney, aged 62, describes the effect adalimumab (Humira) has had on her life “While joint damage had occurred before I started on Humira, the drug has totally given me back my life. Before I was on this anti-TNF I was sometimes dependent on my wheelchair and always felt ill and exhausted which was worse than the pain. Humira has given me strength and vitality and I lead a very busy life, running a business, helping people and am always on my feet! Without this treatment I most certainly would not be able to do these things.”

NICE has also stated that with regard to sequential use of Anti-TNF drugs, it is commissioning additional analysis and will publish additional guidance on this aspect in due course.

Lynn Love continues;

“Many patients have derived significant benefits from being able to switch from one Anti-TNF to another on the grounds of inefficacy as demonstrated by data published by the BSR (British Society for Rheumatology) Biologics Register. It is in the best interest of patients to have the option to switch available to them if they need it.”

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About the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society :

• 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.

For more information, please contact:

Lynn Love, Director of Operations

Direct line: 01628 501543

Email: lynn@nras.org.uk