Resource impact statement

NICE has recommended tofacitinib as an option for treating active ankylosing spondylitis that is not controlled well enough with conventional therapy in adults, only if:

  • tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors are not suitable or do not control the condition well enough and
  • the company provides tofacitinib according to the commercial arrangement.

We expect the resource impact of implementing the recommendations in England will be less than £5 million per year (or approximately £8,800 per 100,000 population, based on a population for England of 56.6 million people).

This is because the technology is a further treatment option and the overall cost of treatment will be similar.

Tofacitinib represents an additional treatment option for those patients with active ankylosing spondylitis, where tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitors are not suitable or do not control the condition well enough and who would benefit from or prefer an oral treatment, as opposed to injectable treatments.

Tofacitinib and some of the other treatment options have discounts that are commercial in confidence. It is the company’s responsibility to let relevant NHS organisations know details of the discount.

A resource impact template is provided for completion at a local level. This is because there are numerous treatment options that are recommended by NICE for treating ankylosing spondylitis.

This technology is commissioned by integrated care boards. Providers are NHS hospital trusts.

The payment mechanism for the technology is determined by the responsible commissioner and depends on the technology being classified as high cost.

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