Bone Diseases: Medical Treatments

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2007, Official Report, column 990W, on bone diseases: medical treatments, when he expects a final approval determination to be published following the delay in publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s final guidance for anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment for ankylosing spondylitis; (148497)

(2) whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s assessment of, and guidance on, anti-tumour necrosis factor treatments for ankylosing spondylitis will take into account the Department’s policy of treating patients outside hospital whenever possible.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) anticipates publishing final guidance to the national health service on adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in October 2007.

In reaching a view on the clinical and cost effectiveness of adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, NICE’s Appraisal Committee will consider all relevant information.

Further information is available on NICE’s website at:

guidance.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=98339

Volume 462: debated on Thursday 12 July 2007