tocilizumab (RoActemra)

following a full submission:

tocilizumab (RoActemra) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland. Licensed indication under review: in combination with methotrexate, for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have either responded inadequately to, or who were intolerant to, previous therapy with one or more diseasemodifying anti-rheumatic drugs or tumour necrosis factor antagonists. In these patients, toculizumab can be given as monotherapy in case of intolerance to methotrexate or where continued treatment with methotrexate is inappropriate.

Addition of tocilizumab to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs resulted in an increased response rate for reduction of disease activity.

SMC restriction: It is restricted for use in combination therapy within NHS Scotland. The manufacturer did not present an economic case for monotherapy. Toculizumab should be used in accordance with the British Society of Rheumatology guidelines for prescribing TNF- blockers in adults.