Guidance
1 Recommendations
1 Recommendations
1.1 Certolizumab pegol alone, or in combination with methotrexate, is recommended as an option for treating active psoriatic arthritis in adults only if:
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it is used as described in the NICE technology appraisal guidance on etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (recommendations 1.1 and 1.2) or
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the person has had a tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor but their disease has stopped responding after the first 12 weeks.
Certolizumab pegol is only recommended if the company provides it as agreed in the patient access scheme.
1.2 Secukinumab alone, or in combination with methotrexate, is recommended as an option for treating active psoriatic arthritis in adults only if:
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it is used as described in the NICE technology appraisal guidance on etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (recommendations 1.1 and 1.2) or
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the person has had a TNF‑alpha inhibitor but their disease has not responded within the first 12 weeks or has stopped responding after 12 weeks or
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TNF‑alpha inhibitors are contraindicated but would otherwise be considered (as described in NICE technology appraisal guidance on etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis).
Secukinumab is only recommended if the company provides it as agreed in the patient access scheme.
1.3 Assess the response to certolizumab pegol and secukinumab after 12 weeks and 16 weeks of treatment respectively. Only continue treatment if there is clear evidence of response, defined as an improvement in at least 2 of the 4 Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC), 1 of which must be joint tenderness or swelling score, with no worsening in any of the 4 criteria. People whose disease has a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response but whose PsARC response does not justify continuing treatment should be assessed by a dermatologist, to determine whether continuing treatment is appropriate based on skin response (as described in the NICE technology appraisal guidance on etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, recommendation 1.3).
1.4 When using the PsARC healthcare professionals should take into account any physical, sensory or learning disabilities or communication difficulties that could affect a person's responses to components of the PsARC and make any adjustments they consider appropriate.
1.5 This guidance is not intended to affect the position of patients whose treatment with certolizumab pegol and secukinumab was started within the NHS before this guidance was published. Treatment of those patients may continue without change to whatever funding arrangements were in place for them before this guidance was published until they and their NHS clinician consider it appropriate to stop.