Ixekizumab for treating axial spondyloarthritis

2.1 Ixekizumab (Taltz, Eli Lily) is indicated for 'the treatment of adult patients with active ankylosing spondylitis [radiographic axial spondyloarthritis] who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy, and active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis with objective signs of inflammation as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) who have responded inadequately to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)'.

2.2 The dosage schedule is available in the summary of product characteristics.

2.3 The list price of ixekizumab is £1,125 for 1 pre-filled syringe containing 80 mg per 1 ml solution (excluding VAT; BNF online, accessed March 2021). The annual cost is £16,875 for 15 injections in year 1 and £14,625 for 13 injections in year 2 (excluding VAT; BNF online, accessed March 2021).

2.4 The company has a commercial arrangement. This makes ixekizumab available to the NHS with a discount. The size of the discount is commercial in confidence. It is the company's responsibility to let relevant NHS organisations know details of the discount.