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'Last resort' rheumatoid arthritis drug denied
A decision not to approve a 'last resort' drug for NHS use has drawn anger from health campaigners.
The drug abatacept, marketed as 'Orencia', is used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has confirmed that it will not be made available to patients through the NHS.
A NICE spokesperson said: 'Whilst recognizing the severity of the disease, the committee concluded that based on this evidence, abatacept could not be considered [a] good use of NHS resources.'
According to the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS), the drug could benefit around 3,500 people in the UK. Ailsa Bosworth, NRAS chief executive of, said that the decision was a 'potential backward step' for RA patients.
'There is no acceptable alternative for patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have tried and failed the other biologic therapy options,' she said. '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.'
Earlier in the week, the NRAS had welcomed the decision to approve another drug, adalimumab (Humira) for NHS use.
Category: Healthcare
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