NICE recommends Entyvio (vedolizumab) from Takeda to treat ulcerative colitis

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued guidelines recommending that Entyvio (vedolizumab) from Takeda, should be considered for adults with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis when conventional therapy or TNF-alpha inhibitors are ineffective or cannot be tolerated. People should be able to have the treatment until it stops working or surgery is needed. Their condition should be assessed 12 months after they start taking vedolizumab. If they still have symptoms but it is clear that the treatment is helping, they can continue to have it. If they no longer have symptoms, treatment could be stopped, and later restarted if symptoms return. The NICE endorsement is dependent on a confidential patient access scheme offering the drug at a reduced rate to help secure its cost effectiveness.