NICE recommends ustekinumab

The U.K.'s NICE issued a preliminary appraisal recommending use of Stelara ustekinumab from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to treat plaque psoriasis in adults where the disease is severe as defined by a total PASI of 10 or more and a Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of more than 10. The recommendation also is limited to those who have failed to respond to standard systemic therapies such as cyclosporin, methotrexate and PUVA (psoralen and long-wave ultraviolet radiation), or patients who are intolerant of or have a contraindication to these treatments.

J&J has proposed a patient access scheme under which patients who weigh more than 100 kg and who are prescribed the 90 mg dose (2 x 45 mg vials) would receive both vials at the cost of a single vial. The Department of Health said the scheme does not constitute an excessive administrative burden on the NHS. ...