AbbVie Gains Access to UK Crohn’s Disease Market with NICE Recommendation

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the United Kingdom has recommended RINVOQ (upadacitinib) as a treatment option for adult patients in England and Wales with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease (CD). With this recommendation, upadacitinib becomes the first janus kinase inhibitor available for CD treatment in England and Wales.

According to a May 18, 2023 press release, the positive final draft guidance from NICE has been based on data from three Phase III trials, providing statistically significant efficacy and consistent safety profiles of the drug in treated patients. Patients that have either not responded well enough, who have lost response, or who are intolerant to previous biological treatment, as well as patients who are contraindicated for treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, will be eligible for treatment with RINVOQ in England and Wales.

“We are pleased that NICE has recommended upadacitinib for eligible people with Crohn’s disease on the NHS [National Health Service] in England and Wales. This is another important milestone for the inflammatory bowel disease community, as it follows NICE’s recommendation for upadacitinib in ulcerative colitis last year,” said Belinda Byrne, medical director, AbbVie UK, in the press release. “We are committed to using our extensive immunology experience and working tirelessly to ensure as many people as possible with this debilitating condition can find a treatment that has the potential to have a significant impact on their life.”

“The pain, physical symptoms, and complications of Crohn’s disease should not be underestimated. Often starting at a pivotal time during young adulthood, it can lead to low quality of life and have a significant impact on people’s daily activities and work, as well as having mental health consequences including depression and anxiety,” added Sarah Sleet, CEO, Crohn’s and Colitis UK, in the press release. “It can be difficult for people with Crohn’s disease to find a suitable treatment that works for them or continues to work for them, so new options are of vital importance.”

“As a progressive disease, it is imperative that we help people with Crohn’s disease to achieve disease control and improve their quality of life,” said Alexandra Kent, consultant gastroenterologist at King's College Hospital NHS Trust, in the press release. “There has been a lack of new advanced therapies made available on the NHS to treat Crohn’s disease for over half a decade. Being able to offer eligible people an additional treatment option that is available as a once daily pill is a positive step forward.”

Source: AbbVie