The Scottish Medicines Consortium approves Xeljanz (tofacitinib) for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has today published its acceptance of Xeljanz (tofacitinib) as a treatment for psoriatic arthritis in Scotland.
Xeljanz may be prescribed in combination with methotrexate for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have not responded adequately to at least two conventional DMARDs - disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (medicines that stop or slow disease progression), given either alone or in combination.
Xeljanz, which is taken by tablet, works differently to any of the other treatments that are currently available for psoriatic arthritis. It belongs to a class of medications known as JAK inhibitors and works by blocking the actions of a group of proteins called Janus Kinases (JAKs) which are involved in causing the inflammation in psoriatic arthritis. By blocking their actions, tofacitinib reduces the inflammation and other symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.
We will be publishing more information on Xeljanz for psoriatic arthritis soon. In the meantime, please get in touch with us if you have any questions.