NICE recommends Kineret for Still’s disease treatment

pharmafile | April 1, 2021 | News story | |  NICE 

Sobi has today announced a NICE recommendation of Kineret (anakinra) as a first-line biologic therapeutic option for still’s disease, including systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and adult-onset still’s disease (AOSD).

Still’s disease is a rare and serious inflammatory disorder that presents in adults as AOSD, and in children up to 16 years as sJIA. It is often associated with fever, rash, and joint inflammation and can lead to life-threatening complications in approximately 10% of children and 15% of adults.

NICE has recommended anakinra for sJIA in people eight months or over with a body weight of 10kg or more, who have not responded to at least one conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). The recommendation was also given for the treatment of AOSD in people who have responded inadequately to two or more conventional DMARDs.

Michael Oliver, Vice President and General Manager of Sobi UK and Republic of Ireland, said: “We are pleased to receive this positive news for anakinra. As a company we are committed to improving the lives of people with rare diseases and this recommendation will provide earlier access to anakinra in patients with still’s disease and help to enhance their quality of life.”

This is the first time that anakinra has been assessed by NICE for the treatment of Still’s disease. Previously, limited funding was in place for anakinra in still’s disease treatment via NHS England commissioning policies.

Anakinra has already been accepted for use by the SMC in patients with sJIA and AOSD in Scotland in line with its marketing authorisation.  It was also approved for use in Still’s disease by the EMA in 2018.

Anakinra is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, a biologic therapy which mediates the body’s inflammatory and immune responses. It is administered as a once-daily subcutaneous injection and can be given as monotherapy or in combination with other anti-inflammatory drugs and DMARDs.

Professor A Ramanan, Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, said: “I welcome this positive recommendation for anakinra in relation to sJIA, as it offers an effective, therapeutic option for a disease which can be associated with significant morbidity among patients.”

Kat Jenkins


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