Skyrizi (risankizumab) has been approved by NICE for severe psoriasis treatment in adults who have failed conventional systemic therapies, and will be available on NHS England from this August. Approval came on the back of clinical trials that show Skyrizi is more effective than AbbVie’s off-patent Humira (adalimumab) and J&J’s Stelara (ustekinumab). NICE said that indirect comparisons suggest Skyrizi is likely to provide similar health benefits versus J&J’s Tremfya (guselkumab) and better Psoriasis Area and Severity Index response rates versus several other biologicals. NICE further recommends that if patients and clinicians consider Skyrizi to be one of a range of suitable treatments, including Skyrizi, Cosentyx (secukinumab) and Eli Lilly’s Talz (ixekizumab), then the least expensive should be chosen, once administration costs, dosage, price per dose and commercial arrangements are taken into account.

“NICE approves AbbVie/BI Skyrizi“

AbbVie’s UK medical director, Dr Alice Butler, said: “Risankizumab’s availability on the NHS will represent the fastest time between marketing authorisation and reimbursement of any biologic treatment for psoriasis.”