AbbVie receives NICE recommendation for Humira

AbbVie has announced that its multipurpose anti-TNF therapy Humira has received a new recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

The drug has been ratified for NHS use in England as an option for adults living with moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis who have not adequately responded to conventional therapy.

It is thought that anti-TNFs like Humira can improve patients' quality of life and reduce hospital admissions related to ulcerative colitis, helping to restore independence for those affected by the disease.

About one in 420 people in the UK develop ulcerative colitis. It can occur at any age, but onset is most common between the ages of 15 and 25.

Dr Neil Pumford, UK medical director at AbbVie, said: "The evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of anti-TNFs in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with ulcerative colitis in this patient group is unquestionable."

Sales of Humira surged by 17.5 percent during the third quarter of 2014, helping the company to achieve a better-than-expected financial performance during the period.