The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted tocilizumab (RoActemra™) within NHS Scotland for the treatment of active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in patients 2 years of age and older who have responded inadequately to previous therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and systemic corticosteroids. Tocilizumab can be given as monotherapy (in case of intolerance to methotrexate or where treatment with methotrexate is inappropriate) or in combination with methotrexate.

 
The drug advice notes that tocilizumab was superior to placebo in reducing disease activity and fever in patients with persistent active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis despite treatment with NSAIDs and corticosteroids.

 
This SMC advice takes account of the benefits of a Patient Access Scheme (PAS) that improves the cost-effectiveness of tocilizumab