etanercept 50mg subcutaneous injection (Enbrel)

following an abbreviated submission:

etanercept 50mg subcutaneous injection (Enbrel) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy. It is restricted to use in accordance with the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) guidelines of July 2004.

Etanercept improves signs and symptoms, physical function and quality of life in patients with severe active ankylosing spondylitis. It reduces acute spinal inflammation, but there is no radiological evidence that it decreases joint damage. It is a cost-effective treatment option when used in accordance with the BSR guidelines and where clear and rigorous stopping rules are applied. The 50mg formulation facilitates once weekly administration of etanercept at no additional cost over the existing 25mg formulation that is administered twice weekly.