27 March 2014 - Final draft NICE guidance published today does not recommend ustekinumab (Stelara) for psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease affecting the joints and connective tissue, and is associated with psoriasis of the skin or nails. It is a progressive disorder, ranging from mild synovitis (inflammation of the tissue lining joints such as the hip or shoulder) to severe progressive erosion of the joints.

The Independent Appraisal Committee examined the clinical and cost effectiveness of using ustekinumab alone or in combination with methotrexate, for treating active psoriatic arthritis in adults when the response to previous non-biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) therapy has been inadequate. The draft guidance is now with consultees, who have the opportunity to appeal against it. Until NICE issues final guidance, NHS bodies should make decisions locally on the funding of specific treatments. This draft guidance does not mean that people currently taking ustekinumab will stop receiving it. They have the option to continue treatment until they and their clinicians consider it appropriate to stop.

For more details, go to: http://www.nice.org.uk/newsroom/pressreleases/NICESetNotToRecommendUstekinumabForPsoriaticArthritis....