Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Orencia approved in Scotland

Bristol-Myers Squibb's Orencia has been recommended by the Scottish Medicines Consortium for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

The regulator has endorsed the drug for use among adult NHS patients as a first-line biologic therapy for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis cases that have continued to progress despite treatment with two conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.

In clinical trials, Orencia has been shown to reduce the signs and symptoms of the disease, as well as slowing the progression of joint damage and improving physical function among sufferers.

Earlier this year, the manufacturer reported positive data from the Ample trial, which showed that Orencia can deliver comparable efficacy to AbbVie's Humira.

Bristol-Myers Squibb has agreed to provide a patient access scheme to ensure that the therapy is a cost-effective option for the Scottish NHS.

Professor Iain McInnes, director of the Arthritis Research UK Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis Centre of Excellence at the University of Glasgow, said: "This is great news for clinicians and therefore people with rheumatoid arthritis in Scotland."