UK NICE recommends Orencia (abatacept), Humira (adalimumab), Enbrel (etanercept) and RoActemra (tocilizumab) for juvenile ideopathic arthritis

NICE has provisionally recommended Orencia (abatacept) from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Humira (adalimumab) from AbbVie, Enbrel (etanercept) from Pfizer and RoActemra (tocilizumab), from Roche, within their marketing authorisations, as options for treating juvenile ideopathic arthritis. The draft guidance states that when more than one drug is suitable, treatment should be started with the least expensive drug, taking into account administration costs, the dose needed and the product cost per dose.

The four drugs that are the subject of this draft guidance belong to a group of drugs called disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) which aim to reduce or halt joint damage by reducing or stopping disease activity. They are all licensed for use where previous treatment has been associated with an inadequate response or with intolerance.