Abatacept now approved for rheumatoid arthritis after failure of conventional DMARDs
24 April 2013
Following a review, NICE have overturned their previous negative decision for abatacept (Orencia) following the introduction of a patient access scheme.
This new guidance brings the drug in line with other anti-TNF drugs licensed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (pictured) that have been approved by NICE for NHS use | SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Previously, abatacept was only approved for use in rheumatoid arthritis after the failure of a TNF inhibitor. Now it may also be used in adults whose disease has responded inadequately to 2 conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), including methotrexate, provided the manufacturer supplies abatacept with the discount agreed in the patient access scheme.