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| 'Costly' arthritis drug approved | 'Costly' arthritis drug approved |
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| A powerful arthritis drug, judged too expensive for patients in England and Wales, has been approved in Scotland. | A powerful arthritis drug, judged too expensive for patients in England and Wales, has been approved in Scotland. |
| The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) has ruled that Tocilizumab was too costly for NHS patients south of the border. | |
| However, the body's Scottish equivalent has recommended patients in Scotland be treated with the drug. | However, the body's Scottish equivalent has recommended patients in Scotland be treated with the drug. |
| The treatment, marketed under the name RoActemra, targets an inflammatory signalling molecule to reduce symptoms. | The treatment, marketed under the name RoActemra, targets an inflammatory signalling molecule to reduce symptoms. |
| Used in combination with standard anti-inflammatory drug methotrexate (MTX), researchers have found that RoActemra can improve remission rates for those with rheumatoid arthiritis six-fold. | Used in combination with standard anti-inflammatory drug methotrexate (MTX), researchers have found that RoActemra can improve remission rates for those with rheumatoid arthiritis six-fold. |
| We strongly hope that Nice will revise its draft guidance to ensure that people with rheumatoid arthritis across the country are able to benefit from RoActemra Ailsa BosworthNational Rheumatoid Arthritis Society | We strongly hope that Nice will revise its draft guidance to ensure that people with rheumatoid arthritis across the country are able to benefit from RoActemra Ailsa BosworthNational Rheumatoid Arthritis Society |
| Nice has indicated in its draft guidance that the treatment, which costs £9,000 per patient per year, is too expensive to justify its use on the NHS. | Nice has indicated in its draft guidance that the treatment, which costs £9,000 per patient per year, is too expensive to justify its use on the NHS. |
| In December the organisation issued a statement saying its final decision could be swayed by sufficiently persuasive new evidence. It challenged the drug's makers Roche to prove that its product really was cost-effective. | In December the organisation issued a statement saying its final decision could be swayed by sufficiently persuasive new evidence. It challenged the drug's makers Roche to prove that its product really was cost-effective. |
| Meanwhile, the current position in England and Wales is that NHS funding bodies do not feel obliged to pay for Tocilizumab. | Meanwhile, the current position in England and Wales is that NHS funding bodies do not feel obliged to pay for Tocilizumab. |
| Sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to other therapies already have access to the drug in most of continental Europe. | Sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis who do not respond to other therapies already have access to the drug in most of continental Europe. |
| The new guidance, by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), recommends Tocilizumab in combination with MTX for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis when other treatment options have run out. | The new guidance, by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), recommends Tocilizumab in combination with MTX for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis when other treatment options have run out. |
| 'Fantastic news' | 'Fantastic news' |
| Leading rheumatologist Professor John Isaacs, from the Institute of Cellular Medicine at the University of Newcastle, said: "This is fantastic news for people in Scotland who suffer from this disabling, life-long disease. | Leading rheumatologist Professor John Isaacs, from the Institute of Cellular Medicine at the University of Newcastle, said: "This is fantastic news for people in Scotland who suffer from this disabling, life-long disease. |
| "However, it also highlights the disparities in accessing treatment between Scotland and the rest of the UK." | "However, it also highlights the disparities in accessing treatment between Scotland and the rest of the UK." |
| Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said: "The SMC's decision provides people with rheumatoid arthritis in Scotland who face a life of pain and potential disability another chance of combating their disease. | Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said: "The SMC's decision provides people with rheumatoid arthritis in Scotland who face a life of pain and potential disability another chance of combating their disease. |
| "We strongly hope that Nice will revise its draft guidance to ensure that people with rheumatoid arthritis across the country are able to benefit from RoActemra." | "We strongly hope that Nice will revise its draft guidance to ensure that people with rheumatoid arthritis across the country are able to benefit from RoActemra." |
| An estimated 646,000 people in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune disease that attacks the joints. | An estimated 646,000 people in the UK have rheumatoid arthritis, an auto-immune disease that attacks the joints. |
| A third of affected adults will have stopped working within two years of the disease taking hold and around half will be too disabled to work within 10 years. | A third of affected adults will have stopped working within two years of the disease taking hold and around half will be too disabled to work within 10 years. |