§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the current prescribing status is of Infliximab as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's Disease. [122081]
§ Ms StuartA European licence was granted on 13 August 1999 for Remicade, whose active constituent is infliximab. It is licensed for the treatment of severe, active Crohn's disease in patients who have not responded despite a full and adequate course of therapy with a corticosteroid and/or an immunosuppressant; and for the treatment of fistulising Crohn's disease, in patients who have not responded despite a full and adequate course of therapy with conventional treatment.
Infliximab is not yet licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
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§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated relating to the prescribing of Infliximab. [122083]
§ Ms StuartNeither the Department nor the Medical Research Council has directly commissioned any research into Infliximab.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice he(a) has received and (b) intends to seek from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence regarding the prescribing of Infliximab for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's Disease. [122085]
§ Ms StuartWe are considering a number of possible additional topics for appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence during the year 2000–01. An announcement will be made shortly.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what medical trials his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated relating to the efficacy of Infliximab. [122084]
§ Ms StuartThe Department has not commissioned or evaluated medical trials relating to the efficacy of infliximab. Infliximab was authorised for use through the European Medicines Evaluation Agency who reviewed the available data.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to health authorities and prescribers relating to the prescribing of Infliximab. [122082]
§ Ms StuartThe Department does not normally issue guidance relating to the prescribing of individual drugs. Clinicians learn about new drugs and therapies through publications such as those from the "National Prescribing Centre", the "British National Formulary" and other professional journals.