The Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System Area Prescribing Committee has agreed the reviewed and updated axial spondyloarthritis pathway.

The Surrey Heartlands integrated care system Area Prescribing Committee (APC) approve upadacitinib as recommended by NICE TA829 as an option for treating active ankylosing spondylitis that is not controlled well enough with conventional therapy in adults.

Upadacitinib for this indication will be considered as RED on the traffic light status (treatment should be initiated and continued by specialist clinicians).

Please see the current treatment pathway below.

Primary care prescribers should be aware that their patient is receiving this medicine and ensure that this is recorded on the patient’s medication screen as a hospital-only drug in line with guidance on the PAD. This will also alert the prescriber to potential side effects and interactions with other medicines prescribed in primary care. It will also ensure that GP records, which are accessed by other healthcare providers, are a true and accurate reflection of the patient’s medication.