etanercept 50mg subcutaneous injection (Enbrel)

following an abbreviated submission:

etanercept 50mg subcutaneous injection (Enbrel) is accepted for use within NHSScotland for the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis for whom treatment with etanercept is considered appropriate.

Etanercept is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adults, either alone or in combination with methotrexate when the response to disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, including methotrexate (unless contraindicated), has been inadequate or for the treatment of severe, active and progressive rheumatoid arthritis in adults not previously treated with methotrexate. The 50mg formulation facilitates once weekly administration of etanercept at no additional cost over the existing 25mg formulation that is administered twice weekly.