Recommendations
This section contains a list of the policy recommendations of the Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee.
Reviews of the new medicines have been conducted by our pharmacists using a number of resources including National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) which is a Special health Authority (SHA) set up in 1999. It is used to give advice to the NHS on best clinical practice including the clinical and cost effectiveness of drugs and other treatments.
Definitions and criteria for the categorisation of medicines
Legacy Merseyside
New Cheshire and Merseyside
Transition of Commissioning Policies
On 1st July 2022 NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB) became the new statutory body responsible for ensuring health care services are available to meet the reasonable needs of the people of Cheshire & Merseyside.
Until such time as a single suite of commissioning policies can be developed and adopted, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside will continue to adopt and operate the CCG policies it has inherited at Place/borough level, which means that there will be no immediate change in commissioning policy for local people resident in those Places/boroughs from what was in place prior to 1st July 2022.
Documents
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of abatacept infusion and subcutaneous injection (Orencia ®) for rheumatoid arthritis and infusion for polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis as described below.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of adalimumab injection (Humira®) for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and in patients fitting other criteria commissioned by Pan Mersey CCGs, as described.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab, by specialists only, for the treatment of moderate rheumatoid arthritis after conventional DMARDs have failed and in accordance with NICE TA715.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of ORAL BISPHOSPHONATES (alendronic acid, ibandronic acid and risedronate sodium) for treating osteoporosis in accordance with NICE TA464.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside PENDING APPROVAL
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of certolizumab injection (Cimzia®) for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as in patients fitting other criteria commissioned by Pan Mersey CCGs, as listed below.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of Dibotermin Alfa formulation (InductOs®) by specialists only for the licensed indication (acute tibia fractures in adults, as an adjunct to standard care) and use outside of this license as detailed below by a non-union specialist only.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside APPROVED
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of etanercept injection for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and adult-onset Still’s disease, as well as in patients fitting other criteria commissioned by Pan Mersey CCGs, as listed.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of golimumab injection (Simponi®) for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and in patients fitting other criteria commissioned by Pan Mersey CCGs, as listed.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of GUSELKUMAB injection (Tremfya®▼), by specialists only, for psoriatic arthritis in accordance with NICE TA815.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside APPROVED
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of infliximab infusion for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and adult-onset Still’s disease, as well as in patients fitting other criteria commissioned by Pan Mersey CCGs, as listed.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee does not recommend the prescribing of PREDNISOLONE ENTERIC COATED 2.5 mg and 5 mg tablets.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee does not recommend the prescribing of Rasburicase powder and solvent for concentrate for solution for infusion (Fasturtec®▼) for the “off label” treatment of severe, refractory, tophaceous gout resistant to xanthine oxidase inhibitors (allopurinol & febuxostat) and uricosuric agents (benzbromarone) or for whom these drugs are contraindicated.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of RISANKIZUMAB solution for injection (Skyrizi®▼), by specialists only,
for psoriatic arthritis in accordance with NICE TA803.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside APPROVED
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of rituximab infusion for rheumatoid arthritis in accordance with NICE TA195 and in accordance with the Mersey Rheumatoid Arthritis Biologics Pathway. Treatment should be initiated and supervised by a rheumatologist.
The Cheshire and Merseyside Area Prescribing Group does not currently recommend the prescribing of SECUKINUMAB solution for injection (Cosentyx®) for enthesitis-related arthritis or juvenile psoriatic arthritis.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of SECUKINUMAB solution for injection (Cosentyx®), by specialists only, for the treatment of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in accordance with NICE TA719.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of tocilizumab infusion and subcutaneous injection (RoActemra®) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and adult-onset Still’s disease, and the infusion for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, as described.
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of UPADACITINIB prolonged-release tablets (Rinvoq®▼), by specialists only, for treating active ankylosing spondylitis in accordance with NICE TA829.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside APPROVED
The Cheshire and Merseyside Interim Area Prescribing Group recommends the prescribing of UPADACITINIB prolonged-release tablets (Rinvoq®▼), by specialists only, for active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in accordance with NICE TA861.
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside APPROVED
The Pan Mersey Area Prescribing Committee recommends the prescribing of UPADACITINIB prolonged-release tablets (RINVOQ®▼), by specialists only, for treating moderate rheumatoid arthritis in accordance with NICE TA744.