Adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, tocilizumab and abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis not previously treated with DMARDs or after conventional DMARDs only have failed

Technology appraisal guidance
Reference number: TA375
Published: 26 January 2016

Research recommendations coming out of this guidance

NICE agreed that further research would be of value to investigate factors which can predict the likelihood of rapid progression of disease and response to treatment with biological DMARDs. Factors to investigate include:
- persistent elevation of inflammatory markers (such as C-reactive protein [CRP]) and
- presence of erosions on X-ray and
- positive for anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA).