Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have fetched ready access to a latest treatment option for their disease after the National Health Service cost watchdog extended a final green light for UCB Pharma's Cimzia.

Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia) will be offered free of cost by manufacturer (UCB Pharma) for the first 12 weeks for patients starting treatment via a patient access scheme agreed with the Department of Health. Currently, the therapy is 10 pre-loaded syringes of 200 mg each.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has now issued final guidance suggesting Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) as an option for patients with RA, however, only in those who have already tried methotrexate and another disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) and have severe 'active' disease.

The NHS will now be granted three months to initiate with the implementation of the new guidance, which has been published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Dr Carole Longson, Director, Health Technology Evaluation Centre, said, "The recommendations have been facilitated by the positive response of the manufacturer (UCB Pharma) in providing more detailed information on the clinical and cost effectiveness of its treatment, and by offering the patient access scheme".