Adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab and abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis not previously treated with DMARDs or after conventional DMARDs only have failed

  • Technology appraisal guidance
  • TA375
  • Published: 
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8 Sources of evidence considered by the Committee

A. The assessment report for this appraisal was prepared by the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR):

  • Stevenson MD, Archer R, Tosh J et al. Adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab and abatacept for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis not previously treated with disease‑modifying anti‑rheumatic drugs and after the failure of conventional disease‑modifying anti‑rheumatic drugs only: systematic review and economic evaluation. February, 2015.

  • Gibson L, Hernandez Alava M, Wailoo A. Progression of disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis treated with non‑biologic therapies. Report by the Decision Support Unit. February, 2015.

B. The following organisations accepted the invitation to participate in this appraisal as consultees and commentators. They were invited to comment on the draft scope, assessment report and the appraisal consultation document (ACD). Organisations listed in I, II and III were also invited to make written submissions and have the opportunity to appeal against the final appraisal determination.

I. Companies:

  • AbbVie

  • Bristol–Myers Squibb

  • Hospira UK*

  • Pfizer

  • Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd

  • Napp Pharmaceuticals*

  • Roche

  • UCB Pharma Ltd

* denotes that these companies were not included at the start of the appraisal and so were not invited to comment on the draft scope or assessment report; only on the appraisal consultation document.

II. Professional/expert and patient/carer groups:

  • Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA)

  • Arthritis Care

  • National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society

  • British Health Professionals in Rheumatology

  • British Society for Rheumatology

  • Primary Care Rheumatology Society

  • Royal College of Nursing

  • Royal College of Pathologists

  • Royal College of Physicians

III. Other consultees:

  • Department of Health

  • Welsh Government

IV. Commentator organisations (without the right of appeal):

  • Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland

  • Commissioning Support Appraisals Service

  • Health Improvement Scotland

  • Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

  • AstraZeneca UK

  • Hospira UK

  • Novartis

  • Pfizer

  • Arthritis Research UK

  • The Work Foundation

  • School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)

  • National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme

C. The following individuals were selected from clinical specialist and patient expert nominations from the consultees and commentators. They participated in the Appraisal Committee discussions and provided evidence to inform the Appraisal Committee's deliberations. They gave their expert personal view on adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab and abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis not previously treated with DMARDs or after conventional DMARDs only have failed by attending the initial Committee discussion and/or providing written evidence to the Committee. They were also invited to comment on the ACD.

  • Dr Chris Deighton, Consultant Rheumatologist, nominated by British Society for Rheumatology – clinical expert

  • Dr Frank McKenna, Consultant Rheumatologist, nominated by British Society for Rheumatology – clinical expert

  • Professor Ernest Choy, Professor of Rheumatology, nominated by Roche Pharmaceuticals – clinical expert

  • Dr Ben Parker, Consultant Rheumatologist, nominated by British Society for Rheumatology – clinical expert

  • Ailsa Bosworth, nominated by National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society – patient expert

  • Don McWilliam, nominated by Arthritis Care – patient expert

D. Representatives from the following companies attended Committee meetings. They contributed only when asked by the Committee chair to clarify specific issues and comment on factual accuracy. They were also invited to comment on the ACD.

  • AbbVie

  • Bristol–Myers Squibb

  • Hospira UK

  • Pfizer

  • Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd

  • Napp Pharmaceuticals

  • Roche

  • UCB Pharma Ltd

  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)