The UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended Janssen’s Stelara (ustekinumab) for National Health Service treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis in patients who can’t tolerate a conventional therapy or a biological agent.

NICE previously said the treatment was not cost-effective, but now says that new cost estimates for ustekinumab compared with vedolizumab are below its cost-effectiveness threshold.

NICE also noted that clinical trial data showed ustekinumab is more effective than a placebo for treating the condition.