What has NICE said?
Infliximab (also known as Remicade, Inflectra or Remsima), adalimumab (Humira) and golimumab (Simponi) are recommended. They are possible treatments for adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis if conventional therapy hasn't worked or isn't suitable.
Infliximab is also recommended as a possible treatment for children or young people aged 6–17 years with severe ulcerative colitis, if conventional therapy hasn't worked or isn't suitable.
People should be able to have the treatment for at least 12 months, unless it stops working well enough. Their condition should be assessed at least every 12 months. Their doctor should discuss with them the benefits and risks of continuing or stopping treatment. If treatment is stopped and the ulcerative colitis gets worse, people should be able to start treatment again.
What does this mean for me?
If you are an adult with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and your doctor thinks that infliximab, adalimumab or golimumab is the right treatment, you should be able to have the treatment on the NHS.
If you are a child or young person with severe ulcerative colitis and your doctor thinks that infliximab is the right treatment, you should be able to have the treatment on the NHS.
These treatments should be available on the NHS within 3 months of the guidance being issued.