Sanofi is celebrating a positive recommendation from the UK’s cost effectiveness watchdog for its rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment Kevzara (sarilumab).
Given in combination with methotrexate, the drug maker’s IL-6 inhibitor will be made available for routine use under the NHS for adults with severe RA who have responded inadequately to disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Peter Kuiper, Sanofi Genzyme’s general manager for UK and Ireland, said: “This recommendation brings us one step closer to making Kevzara available to adult patients with severe RA and reinforces Sanofi’s on-going commitment to helping people impacted by often complex, misunderstood and debilitating diseases.”
According to Arthritis Research UK, more than 400,000 people in the UK have RA, and the disease increases patients’ risk of cardiovascular problems, infections and certain cancers.
Professor Ernest Choy, consultant rheumatologist, University of Cardiff, said: “Rheumatoid arthritis is an unpredictable chronic disease, which can strike at any age, often causing severe pain and comorbidities, which can have a huge impact on all aspects of daily life, including psychological wellbeing.”
NICE’s final appraisal determination was based on the MONARCH study, which demonstrated that sarilumab reduced signs and symptoms experienced by people with RA and improved physical function compared with another biological therapy.
The product – which was developed jointly by Sanofi and Regeneron – was granted EU marketing authorisation for the same indication back in June 2017, but now can be made available for use in England and Wales, UK.