NICE preliminary guidance on Certolizumab (Cimzia) A ‘Minded’ No

Statement from the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

20th October, 2009

NICE preliminary guidance on Certolizumab (Cimzia) A ‘Minded’ No

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society urges NICE to reconsider guidance

It is with huge disappointment that The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) has to report to its members that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued its preliminary recommendation in the Appraisal Consultation Document on 20th October, not to prescribe certolizumab (Cimzia), a new Anti-TNF therapy which works differently to the other Anti-TNF drugs on the market, for the treatment of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. NICE have couched their rejection as a ‘minded no’.

Ailsa Bosworth, Chief Executive of NRAS, comments:

“Coming on the heels of the preliminary ACD rejection of tocilizumab 3 weeks ago, this is unbelievably bad news for people living with severe rheumatoid arthritis in the UK and a real step backwards in the management of the condition, if this decision is not reversed.

“There is a major unmet need for patients who have failed current DMARDs as approximately 30% of people who go onto Anti-TNF therapy fail immediately with a further 20% failing over time and with currently only one further biologic available, Rituximab, patients are being denied clinically effective treatments which could dramatically improve their quality of life and enable them to remain working and looking after their families”.

NRAS Medical Advisor, Prof. Peter Taylor, said “Not only is this appalling news for patients and the Health Professionals who treat them, but it is sending a clear message to the companies who are currently investing in innovative medical research programmes into inflammatory forms of arthritis that the UK market is becoming less relevant and this is hugely detrimental to UK PLC”.

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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.
For more information, please contact:

Lynn Love, Director of Operations, National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

Tel: 0845 458 3969