What does this mean?
This means that, by three months from publication (end November), if someone has Crohn’s Disease and the doctor responsible for their care thinks that vedolizumab is the right treatment, it should be available for use in line with NICE’s recommendations. Treatment should continue until it stops working and should be reassessed at 12 months. If treatment is stopped and symptoms return, it can be restarted.
Where and when does this apply?
This guidance applies to the NHS in England and Wales. NICE guidance is subject to a local review process in Northern Ireland which began when the final draft guidance was issued. The Scottish Medicines Consortium has also accepted vedolizumab for use in Scotland for people with Crohn’s Disease on the same basis.
What is vedolizumab?
Vedolizumab is a “biological” drug which is made from natural sources – similar to infliximab and adalimumab. However, it works in a different way to infliximab and adalimumab so it represents a new ‘class’ of drug in IBD. Infliximab and adalimumab are known as ‘anti-TNFs’ because they target a protein in the body called TNF-alpha. Vedolizumab works in a different way to these drugs because it stops the excessive movement of white blood cells to the gut. This helps to reduce the harmful inflammatory response that contributes to bowel damage in IBD. Current data indicates that vedolizumab can be effective for both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
This guidance means that now people with both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease have access to a vital additional treatment option wherever they live in the UK. The importance of this cannot be underestimated, especially for those who are running out of options.
Helen Terry, Director of Policy, Public Affairs and Research
Crohn's and Colitis UK
Vedolizumab was approved in February this year as an option for the treatment of Ulcerative Colitis.
NICE had originally published provisional draft guidance which did not support the use of vedolizumab for the treatment of Crohn’s Disease on the NHS. This was revised following public and stakeholder consultation and patient and clinical expert input.
Professor Carole Longson, NICE Health Technology Evaluation Centre Director, said, “After considering further information, NICE is happy to be able to recommend vedolizumab as a treatment option for those with Crohn’s Disease. We hope the recommendation will benefit tens of thousands of people who live with this debilitating condition.”
For more information on drug treatments, contact our Information Service on 01727 73 44 70 or info@crohnsandcolitis.org.uk
