What has NICE said?
Adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab (Remicade, Remsima, Inflectra) certolizumab pegol (Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi), tocilizumab (RoActemra) and abatacept (Orencia), taken with a drug called methotrexate, are recommended. They are possible treatments for people with rheumatoid arthritis, only if their disease:
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is severe and
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has not responded to treatment with a combination of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab pegol and tocilizumab can be used alone if people cannot have methotrexate.
Treatment should be stopped after 6 months if the person's rheumatoid arthritis is not responding well enough.
What does this mean for me?
If you have severe rheumatoid arthritis, and your doctor thinks that adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab or abatacept is the right treatment, you should be able to have the treatment on the NHS.
The drugs should be available on the NHS within 3 months of the guidance being issued.
If you are not eligible for treatment as described above, you should be able to continue taking adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab or abatacept until you and your doctor decide it is the right time to stop.