PHARMAC is pleased to announce a decision to widen access to tocilizumab in DHB hospitals from 1 January 2015 for use in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have received inadequate benefit from both a tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alfa inhibitor (adalimumab or etanercept) and rituximab.

This was the subject of a consultation letter dated 13 November 2014.

For more details, go to: http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/notification-2014-12-09-tocilizumab/