NICE approves Janssen’s Tremfya

Janssen’s Tremfya is the first biologic to selectively target a key protein involved in the immune inflammatory response in psoriasis, called interleukin (IL)-23. Shortly after the Scottish Medicines Consortium recommended Tremfya (guselkumab) for use on NHS Scotland for treating plaque psoriasis in adults, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence endorsed it for use on NHS England.
The drug was approved by the EU last year because data from two Phase III trials identified it was better for skin clearance than tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor Humira (adalimumab). 73.3% and 70% of patients treated with Tremfya recorded a PASI 90 score at 16 weeks, compared with 49.7% and 46.8% of patients treated with Humira.
Jennifer Lee, Director of Health Economics, Market Access and Reimbursement (HEMAR) and Advocacy, Janssen-Cilag said: “There is still a need for new treatment options that improve long-term outcomes for patients, who so often have to deal with the psychological as well as the physical impact of this disease. People with plaque psoriasis may now benefit from this new option which can provide clinically meaningful improvements on their disease over the long-term.”