What has NICE said?
Vedolizumab (Entyvio) is recommended. It is a possible option for adults with moderate to severe Crohn's disease if a type of treatment called a tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‑alpha inhibitor isn't suitable or hasn't worked well enough.
People should be able to have vedolizumab until it stops working, or surgery is needed, or for 12 months after starting it, whichever is shorter. Their condition should be assessed 12 months after they started taking vedolizumab. If they still have symptoms but it is clear that the treatment is helping, they can continue to have it. If they no longer have symptoms, treatment can be stopped, and later restarted if symptoms return.
People who continue to take vedolizumab should be assessed at least every 12 months to see whether the treatment is working well enough for them to carry on taking it.
What does this mean for me?
If you have moderate to severe Crohn's disease, and your doctor thinks that vedolizumab is the right treatment, you should be able to have the treatment on the NHS.
Vedolizumab should be available on the NHS within 3 months of the guidance being issued.
If you are not eligible for treatment as described above, you should be able to continue taking vedolizumab until you and your doctor decide it is the right time to stop.