The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have announced that AbbVie's anti-TNF treatment, HUMIRA® (adalimumab), is recommended as an option for adults in England living with moderate to severely active ulcerative colitis, who have not adequately responded to conventional therapy.1 Having additional effective anti-TNF treatment options like adalimumab is important - UC is a debilitating and painful inflammatory bowel condition which can severely impact quality of life, limiting personal freedom and life-chances for the patient.

Dr Neil Pumford, UK Medical Director, AbbVie said: "We welcome the NICE decision as we believe that anti-TNF treatments, such as adalimumab, have an important role to play in the treatment of UC. The evidence supporting the clinical effectiveness of anti-TNFs in reducing the pain and inflammation associated with UC in this patient group is unquestionable. Anti-TNFs may also reduce hospital admissions related to UC 2, helping to give patients much-needed control back over their lives."

The decision follows the assessment of three anti-TNFs assessed as part of a Multiple Technology Appraisal (MTA). Adalimumab along with infliximab, and golimumab "are recommended, within their marketing authorisations, as options for treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults whose disease has responded inadequately to conventional therapy including corticosteroids and mercaptopurine or azathioprine, or who cannot tolerate, or have medical contraindications for, such therapies."1

The FAD recommends that patients should be assessed after 12 months use of anti-TNF treatment and only continued if there is clear evidence of response. The FAD also recommends a "stopping rule" for patients in stable remission with the option to resume treatment again should their UC relapse.1*

Ulcerative Colitis can be a chronic and debilitating condition impacting on every area of a person's life. About 1 in 420 people in the UK develop UC. It can occur at any age but onset is most common between the ages of 15 and 25.3

About a quarter of people with UC need surgery (removal of the large intestine) at some stage because their symptoms cannot be controlled by medication and they experience frequent flare-ups and poor health.4

Anti-TNFs including adalimumab have helped to transform the lives of thousands of patients worldwide living with auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn's Disease as well as Ulcerative Colitis. Adalimumab is supported by extensive efficacy, safety and real world evidence which has accumulated over 10 years since it was first introduced in 2003 and has been licensed for UC since 2012.5