Enbrel etanercept regulatory update

The U.K.'s NICE issued a report prepared by its CRD/CHE Technology Assessment Group designed to evaluate clinical efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of Enbrel etanercept, Humira adalimumab and Remicade infliximab in psoriatic arthritis patients not responding to DMARD therapy. Based on a meta-analysis of case reports, the report found that Remicade appears to be the most effective of the biologics as it was associated with the highest probability of response on joint and skin outcomes. The report found that the range of serious adverse events, including rates of serious infection or malignancy, did not seem to differ considerably between the three TNF alpha inhibitors.

The report also suggests that Enbrel is most likely to be the cost-effective strategy for patients if the threshold for cost-effectiveness were £20,000 or £30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). In a secondary analysis, Enbrel appeared most likely to be cost-effective for use in patients who have failed Humira or Remicade as first-line therapy. For patients who have failed Enbrel as first-line therapy, Humira seems most likely to be cost-effective at a threshold of £20,000 per QALY, while Remicade is most likely to be cost-effective if the threshold is £30,000 per QALY. ...