NICE update on Simponi (golimumab)

In June 2011 guidance (TA225) was published by NICE which recommends golimumab as a possible treatment for some adults with rheumatoid arthritis.  The criteria used to determine if you are eligible for this drug are the same as those used in the prescription of etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab (TA130).  The criteria used are shown below. Golimumab for rheumatoid arthritis needs to be given in combination with a drug called methotrexate.

Who can have golimumab?

You should be able to have golimumab therapy if:
•    you have severe active rheumatoid arthritis as assessed by a rheumatologist on two separate occasions and you have already tried drugs known as ‘conventional’ disease-modifying
anti-rheumatic drugs (or DMARDs for short), including methotrexate, but these drugs haven’t worked or
•    you have severe active rheumatoid arthritis and you have already tried other types of DMARDs, including a DMARD known as a tumour necrosis factor (or TNF for short) inhibitor, but these drugs haven’t worked, and you cannot take rituximab therapy for medical reasons or because you had a bad reaction to it.

You can read more about the work of NICE and the guidance they have published on the NICE website www.nice.org.uk

Information about the biologic drugs is available from NRAS: download our publication ‘Biologics... the story so far’ or it is available to order, call 0845 458 7650 to get your copy!