Adalimumab (Humira) 41707

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) today (Monday) did not recommend the following drug for use within NHSScotland for their specified uses:

• Adalimumab (Humira) for the treatment of severe, active Crohn’s disease. The manufacturer did not present a sufficiently robust economic case to gain acceptance by the SMC.

Notes for editors – Glossary:

• Crohn’s Disease – This is a chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease and can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. As a result, the symptoms of Crohn's disease vary between affected individuals. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhoea (which may be bloody) or constipation, and weight loss. Crohn's disease can also cause complications such as skin rashes, arthritis, and inflammation of the eye.

Notes for editors – About SMC:

1. The SMC advises NHS Boards and Area Drug and Therapeutic Committees (ADTCs) in Scotland about the use of all newly licensed medicines, all new formulations of existing medicines and any major new indications for established products. It does this after new medicines have been licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) / European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA).
2. The SMC process encourages pharmaceutical manufacturers to make a submission before a product is launched. The aim is to issue advice as soon as possible after the launch of a product.
3. Membership of the SMC has been derived from NHS Boards across Scotland. Membership is wide ranging across multi-disciplines of NHS Scotland and also includes members of the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), and patient and voluntary group representatives.
4. This advice represents the views of the Scottish Medicines Consortium and was arrived at after careful consideration of the available evidence. Health professionals are expected to take due account of this recommendation when exercising their clinical judgement. This recommendation does not, however, override the individual responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate decisions in the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer.

For further information, contact Stephen Ferguson on 07779 329 689 or Colin McAllister on 07813 095930