NHS England has today published an interim clinical commissioning policy on the use of adalimumab for children with severe refractory uveitis, recommending its use for patients who meet the clinical criteria it sets out.

This policy will benefit children for whom uveitis threatens their sight, and for whom other treatments have proven ineffective.

A policy on this indication was held over from the 2015/16 specialised commissioning prioritisation round pending further evidence from the ‘Sycamore’ clinical trial. This evidence has now been shared with NHS England in confidence and in advance of its publication.

All treatments for uveitis up to and including the use of immuno-suppressants will remain funded by Clinical Commissioning Groups. Adalimumab will be commissioned and funded by NHS England through specialist regional centres.

Commenting on the announcement, Professor A. V. Ramanan,  Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children & Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath said “The Sycamore trial shows that adalimumab  can be an effective treatment for children with refractory uveitis. NHS England’s interim policy will be of significant benefit for children with this condition, helping prevent visual loss and visual complications ”

The policy, which has been developed by NHS England’s Clinical Reference Group for Specialised Opthalmology with support from clinicians and patient representatives, will be reviewed in 2016, once the Sycamore trial data has been published.