Review of NICE Technology Appraisal; Adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, rituximab, abatacept (review of TA195), golimumab (part review of TA225) and tocilizumab (part review of TA247) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis after failure of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs including a TNF-inhibitor

Proposal to move the existing guidance to the static list

The planned date for review of the above pieces of guidance was June 2013.

This is the date at which the Institute decides whether sufficient new evidence has emerged for the Appraisal Committee to be asked to undertake a full review appraisal.

Whilst there is no new evidence that would lead to a change in the existing recommendations at this time, the ongoing Multiple Technology Appraisal (MTA) for the first-line treatment of rheumatoid arthritis [ID537] is likely to have an impact on these three pieces of guidance. Consequently we propose that TA195, TA225 and TA247 should move to the static list of technology appraisals at this time, before being considered for review again once the ongoing MTA for the first-line treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is published (current anticipated publication date is May 2014).

Topics on the static list may be transferred back to the active list for further appraisal if new evidence becomes available that is likely to have a material effect on the last guidance issued.

In order to be completely confident that this is appropriate, we are asking all relevant consultees and commentators, to inform us of any evidence which will help us decide the best way to update this guidance. Please see appendix A for a full list of the organisations we have contacted. 

July 2013