NICE recommends secukinumab with three-month window for NHS implementation

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued technology appraisal guidance for Cosentyx (secukinumab). Secukinumab is an innovative new treatment licensed for use in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic* therapy.(1)

The announcement by NICE means that its guidance is now final.(2) Secukinumab is recommended as an option for adults with severe plaque psoriasis who have failed to respond to, are contraindicated to or cannot take standard systemic therapies.(2)† The NHS now has a three-month deadline to ensure it is made available to these patients.

Approximately two thirds of patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis are failing to achieve a reduction of 75% in their psoriasis (current treatment goal) with currently available therapies.(3)

By 22 October 2015, secukinumab, which has consistently demonstrated high levels of skin clearance in clinical trials, should be available to eligible patients within the NHS.(4-8)

References

1. Cosentyx – Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). 1–13 (2015).
2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisal guidance 350 – Secukinumab for treating moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
3. Bewley A, Bishop-Bailey A, Hatchard C, Coope H. PICTURE study : A real world study to assess the effectiveness of psoriasis management with biologic therapies in the UK. 23rd Eur Acad Dermatology Venereol Congr (2014).
4. Langley RG et al. Secukinumab in Plaque Psoriasis – Results of Two Phase 3 Trials. N Engl J Med 2014;371:326–38.
5. Blauvelt A et al. Secukinumab administration by pre-filled syringe: Efficacy, safety, and usability results from a randomized controlled trial in psoriasis (FEATURE). Br J Dermatol 2014.
6. Paul C et al. Efficacy, safety and usability of secukinumab administration by autoinjector/pen in psoriasis: a randomized, controlled trial (JUNCTURE). J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2014;1–9.
7. Blauvelt A et al. Secukinumab Treatment Maintains Efficacy in Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis Through Second Year of Treatment: A Randomized Extension of the ERASURE and FIXTURE Studies. In Abstracts at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting 2015 (2015).
8. Thaci D et al. Secukinumab is superior to ustekinumab in clearing skin of subjects with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis: 16-week results from CLEAR study. In Abstracts at the American Academy of Dermatology, Congree, San Francisco, USA (2015).