adalimumab (Humira)

following a full submission:

adalimumab 40mg solution for injection (Humira) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis in adult patients who failed to respond to or have a contraindication to or are intolerant to other systemic therapy including ciclosporin methotrexate or PUVA.

Its use should be restricted to patients with severe disease as defined by a total Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score of ≥10 and a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of >10. Adalimumab improves both signs and symptoms of psoriasis and quality of life compared to placebo and an active non-biological comparator. The manufacturer presented a sufficiently robust economic case to gain acceptance by the SMC for patients with severe disease who achieve a PASI 75 response from baseline at 16 weeks. Continuation of therapy beyond 16 weeks should be carefully reconsidered in patients not responding within this time period.