Celgene’s Otezla receives NICE backing for psoriatic arthritis

Celgene has announced that its psoriatic arthritis drug Otezla has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

A final appraisal determination from the UK regulator has recommended the use of Otezla for the treatment of adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis who have had an inadequate response to or have been unable to tolerate disease modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Data from clinical trials, including the broad-ranging PALACE programme, have shown the drug's proven and durable efficacy in psoriatic arthritis, with improvements in swollen and tender joints, as well as pre-existing dactylitis and enthesitis, leading to enhanced physical function.

Otezla was originally rejected by NICE in September 2015, but has since been reappraised under the regulator's rapid review process. The Scottish Medicines Consortium gave the drug the green light in June last year.

Dr Dani Thomas, medical director for Celgene in the UK and Ireland, said: "We are delighted that patients in England and Wales can now access Otezlavia the NHS, bringing availability in line with patients in Scotland."

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