NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH AND CLINICAL EXCELLENCE'S GUIDANCE ON ANTI-TNF TREATMENT

That this House welcomes the publication of National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidance on anti-TNF treatment options for adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis (AS); supports the decision of NICE's Appeal Panel to uphold the NICE Final Appraisal Determination recommendation; notes that the impact of AS is extensive, affecting some 90,000 people across the UK, and that the effects on employment and work disability are considerable; and believes that implementation of this Guidance will markedly improve the quality of life for those AS patients eligible to receive anti-TNF therapy.