medwireNews: The UK National Institute For Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued draft guidelines recommending baricitinib alongside methotrexate for the treatment of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
As specified in the final appraisal determination, the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor is recommended as an option for adult patients with an inadequate response to conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or for those who cannot take rituximab and have had an inadequate response or intolerance to at least one biologic DMARD.
The NICE guideline highlights that baricitinib can also be given as monotherapy to patients who are unable to take methotrexate because it is contraindicated or due to intolerance.
The UK Department of Health and Eli Lilly (the company marketing the drug) have agreed that baricitinib will be available on the National Health Service at a reduced cost through a confidential patient access scheme.
If there is no appeal by consultees, the final NICE guidelines are expected to be published in August 2017.
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