NICE is the organisation that decides whether treatments should be available on the NHS in England. Wales and Northern Ireland usually follow NICE decisions too.
- Read the full guidance on guselkumab for Crohn's (NICE website)
- Read the full guidance on guselkumab for Ulcerative Colitis (NICE website)
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) is the organisation that decides for Scotland. The SMC is currently assessing guselkumab for use in Scotland.
What is guselkumab?
Guselkumab is a biologic medicine. Biologic medicines are made by a biological process rather than a chemical one. They are produced in a lab using living cells.
Guselkumab works by sticking to a protein called IL-23. Your immune system makes IL-23 to help you fight infections. But it can also cause inflammation. Guselkumab blocks the effects of IL-23. This reduces gut inflammation.
The brand name for guselkumab is Tremfya.
Who can have guselkumab?
For Crohn's
NICE has recommended guselkumab as a treatment option for adults with moderately or severely active Crohn’s. You might be offered guselkumab if:
- You've tried standard treatments or biologic medicines, but they did not work or caused side effects and
- A type of medicine called TNF-alpha inhibitors also did not work or was not suitable for you
For Ulcerative Colitis
NICE has recommended guselkumab as a treatment option for adults with moderately or severely active Ulcerative Colitis. You might be offered guselkumab if:
- You've tried standard treatments, JAK inhibitors or biologic medicines, but they did not work or caused side effects and
- A type of medicine called TNF-alpha inhibitors also did not work or was not suitable for you
Crohn's and Colitis are lifelong conditions affecting more than half a million people in the UK. They tell us all the time how painful and debilitating their symptoms can be, and many will have waited a long time for a diagnosis. There is no cure and existing treatments may not work for some, or may stop working over time. People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease don't want to be stuck in hospital, they want to be out living their lives. Expanding the treatment options for eligible people living with Crohn's and Colitis – with drugs like guselkumab – can only be a good thing.
Marianne Radcliffe
CEO, Crohn's & Colitis UK
Taking guselkumab
You will have your first three doses of guselkumab as either:
- A drip into a vein
- Or an injection under your skin.
You will have one dose every 4 weeks. This aims to get your Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis under control.
After this, you will have guselkumab as an injection under your skin. The injections aim to keep your Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis under control. Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to inject yourself at home. You will have the injection either every 4 weeks or every 8 weeks. How often you will have the injection depends on the dose.
When will it be available?
Guselkumab should be available through the NHS in England within 30 days, and in Wales within 60 days.
How do I get it?
Guselkumab is not suitable for everyone with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis. If you think guselkumab might be suitable for you, talk to your IBD team. Together, you can talk about your treatment options and decide what is right for you.
Increasing access to medicines
Find out how we are working to ensure access to the most effective medicines and treatments for people with Crohn’s or Colitis.
