NICE has published final guidance recommending the use of Stelara (ustekinumab) as a treatment option for adults with severe plaque psoriasis.
It is recommended in cases where the patient is assessed as having severe disease that has not responded to standard systemic therapies including ciclosporin, or for adults who cannot use those therapies.
NICE has added that treatment with ustekinumab should stop if an adequate response has not been achieved by 16 weeks (after the start of treatment) as defined by assessment based on severity of psoriasis and impact on quality of life.
Dr Carole Longson, Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director at NICE, said: “Plaque psoriasis can have a huge impact on an individual, with the condition causing significant discomfort, and in severe cases it can be painful. This new guidance recommending ustekinumab will offer hope to adults whose severe plaque psoriasis hasn’t been helped by systemic therapies including ciclosporin, ethotrexate and psoralen with long-wave ultraviolet radiation.”
Ustekinumab is recommended on the basis that the manufacturer provides the higher dose needed for people who weigh more than 100g for the same price as for the lower dose.
“Two-thirds of patients taking Stelara in placebo-controlled trials saw a significant, visible improvement in their psoriasis in as little as 12 weeks,” said Professor Christopher Griffiths, Professor of Dermatology at the University of Manchester. “This is reflective of what I have seen in clinical practice, with patients experiencing considerable improvements in skin clearance with the added benefit of a convenient dosing regimen.”