Authors' objectives: Sarilumab is intended to be used as a first and second line therapy for the treatment of moderate to severe, active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). If licensed, it would offer an additional treatment option for adult patients who have either responded inadequately, or are intolerant to, one or more disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and one or more previous tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) antagonists. Sarilumab does not currently have Marketing Authorisation in the EU for any indication. RA affects around 1% of the population (over 580,000 people) in England and Wales. The annual incidence of RA is 1.5 per 10,000 in males and 3.6 per 10,000 in females, which equates to approximately 12,000 new diagnoses each year in the UK. Peak age of onset is 40-70 years and the disease is severe in around 15% of patients. It has been estimated that around 10% of patients with RA (approximately 34,600 people) require treatment with biological therapies after the failure of DMARDs. In 2013-14, there were 52,319 admissions for RA in England, resulting in 19,044 bed-days and 53,207 finished consultant episodes. RA is currently incurable; however, symptoms can usually be managed. The clinical management of RA includes physical therapy, surgical interventions and a range of pharmacological treatments. Sarilumab is currently being evaluated in a phase III trial programme, consisting of seven studies comparing its effects on a range of composite outcomes vs placebo, adalimumab and tocalizumab. Results from these trials are expected in 2015/2016.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/sarilumab-for-moderate-to-severe-active-rheumatoid-arthritis/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Research&Intelligence Centre (NIHR HSRIC)