BRIEF—Cimzia recommended by NICE in psoriasis group

Belgian biopharma UCB has happily announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued its final guidance recommending use of its treatment for severe plaque psoriasis within the National Health Service in England.

Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is recommended for adults who have failed to respond to, or are unsuitable to other systemic treatments. The first 12 weeks of treatment are provided free of charge.

The guidance also states that Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) can be used as an additional treatment option for women before or during pregnancy, as well as while they are breastfeeding.

Certolizumab pegol has already been recommended by NICE for: moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adults who have had a tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor; active psoriatic arthritis after inadequate response to DMARDs; and, severe active ankylosing spondylitis and severe non‑radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adults whose disease has responded inadequately to, or who cannot tolerate, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.