ACE Technology Guidances

ACE Technology Guidances communicate recommendations from the MOH Drug Advisory Committee or the MOH Medical Technology Advisory Committee on the funding status and appropriate use of drugs, vaccines or medical technologies that have been evaluated by ACE. The guidances also include the Committee’s rationale for the funding recommendations, and key clinical and economic evidence which informed their deliberations. Plain English Summaries (PES) to explain ACE Technology Guidances are available for patients and the public.

Published on 18 Jan 2021
Last Updated on 01 Jul 2022
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Guidance Recommendations
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
  • Baricitinib 2 mg and 4 mg tablets for treating adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis;
  • Tofacitinib 5 mg tablet for treating adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis; and
  • Rituximab biosimilar (Truxima) 500 mg concentrate for infusion for treating adults with severely active rheumatoid arthritis
in line with their registered indications.

Subsidy status
Baricitinib 2 mg and 4 mg tablets and tofacitinib 5 mg tablets are recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indication.

Baricitinib and tofacitinib should be used in line with the clinical criteria in the MAF checklist for initial and continuing prescriptions for patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rituximab biosimilar (Truxima) 500 mg concentrate for infusion is recommended for inclusion on the MOH Standard Drug List (SDL) for the abovementioned indication.

SDL subsidy and MAF assistance does not apply to any formulations or strengths of tocilizumab, rituximab reference biologic (MabThera) or other rituximab biosimilars (such as Rixathon).

Biologics and Janus kinase inhibitors after conventional DMARDs for rheumatoid arthritis (1 Jul 22) Biosimilar Clinician Fact Sheet (1 Mar 2018) PES Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis that has not improved with previous treatment (Updated 1 July 2022)