NICE Issues Final Guidance on Mabthera and Humira

The UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published final guidance on the use of Roche’s Mabthera for rheumatoid arthritis and Abbott’s Humira for of psoriatic arthritis.

NICE recommended Mabthera (rituximab) in combination with methotrexate as a treatment option for adults with severe active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to or intolerance of other antirheumatic drugs. The agency added that this treatment should be continued only if there is an adequate response following initiation of therapy.

The agency recommended Humira (adalimumab) as a treatment option for adults with active and progressive psoriatic arthritis when the person has peripheral arthritis with three or more tender joints and three or more swollen joints, and the psoriatic arthritis has not responded to adequate trials of at least two standard antirheumatic drugs.

The agency added that Humira treatment should be discontinued after 12 weeks if there has not been an adequate response.