Arthritis sufferers 'denied drugs'

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

A decision by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) could leave sufferers with pain and the possibility of long-term disability.

Patients will not able able to try a second Anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitor) if their first attempt at Anti-TNF therapy fails, according to the Nice decision.

But charities said that moving from one therapy to a second or third has been established practice in the UK for years.

The British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register shows that around 70% of patients will get a good response from a second Anti-TNF if the effects of the first start to wane.

Charities will have chance to appeal against today's decision before final guidance is issued to the NHS in September.

Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive of the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said today's move, combined with a Nice decision in April to reject the drug abatacept, meant effective therapies had been cut from five to two.

She added: "This decision is another nail in the coffin for the treatment of RA in England and Wales.

"Nice are re-writing the rules of RA treatment in this country, ignoring the clinical effectiveness of drugs and ignoring the views of patients and clinicians.

"NICE is systematically taking away clinically effective and proven treatments from patients and giving them just one roll of the dice when it comes to Anti-TNF treatment."