NASS News

ACCESS TO ANTI TNF DRUGS Click Here for full Info

Update on the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) Appraisal on the use of anti TNF drugs (Adalimumab, Etancercept, Infliximab) in the treatment of AS
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NASS is moving into permanent premises

As from March 14 2007 NASS has moved into permanent premises. The new contact details are NASS, Unit 0.2, One Victoria Villas, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2GW. Phone 0208 948 9117. Fax 0208 940 7736.

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Satellite Spondyloarthropathy Symposium - a very successful day

The symposium was held on 23 January at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath and was organised by Dr Millicent Stone. The symposium gave the opportunity to listen to a number of very distinguished international speakers, all of whom are working on aspects of ankylosing spondylitis.

They included Professor Robert Inman from the University of Toronto talking about the role of infection in the spondyloarthropathies (SpA), Professor Jochen Sieper from Berlin whose topic was lessons from immunohistology in AS, and Professor Walter Maksymowych from the University of Alberta who spoke on clinical and imaging studies in SpA. The day continued with a talk from Professor Hill Gaston from the University of Cambridge on HLA B27, from Dr Millicent Stone on disease progression in AS and finally from Dr Annelies Boonen from the University of Maastricht on the subject the challenges of cost-effectiveness analyses in AS.

This last topic was particularly interesting in the context of the current deliberations of NICE on anti TNF drugs for the treatment of AS.

NASS would like to thank Dr Millicent Stone for inviting the NASS director and members from local NASS branches, some of whom were able to attend. We all found it a most interesting and stimulating occasion and a real privilege to hear at first hand from such oustanding speakers.

If you require any further information contact:- E-mail: nass@nass.co.uk