Freedom of Information request on Sulfasalazine and the COVID-19 virus (FOI 22/829)
Published 21 December 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-responses-from-the-mhra-week-commencing-18-july-2022/freedom-of-information-request-on-sulfasalazine-and-the-covid-19-virus-foi-22829
FOI 22/829
21st July 2022
Dear
Thank you for your request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
We understand that the risk of infection or reinfection with COVID-19 is a common concern. However, the eligibility of specific patient groups to obtain or be prescribed certain therapies is not within the MHRA’s remit. Rather, eligibility is a clinical decision and current guidance is published by UKHSA (see website link and text below):
“Treatment
The NHS is offering new monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments to people with COVID-19 who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill and are 12 years of age or above. Some treatments are suitable for people aged 12 to 17.
The list is regularly reviewed and currently includes some people who have:
- Down’s syndrome
- certain types of cancer or have received treatment for certain types of cancer
- sickle cell disease
- certain conditions affecting their blood
- chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5
- severe liver disease
- an organ transplant
- certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions (such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease)
- HIV or AIDS who have a weakened immune system
- inherited or acquired conditions affecting their immune system
- rare neurological conditions: multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington’s disease or myasthenia gravis
You should have been made aware if you might be eligible for treatments by either NHS England or your specialist consultant. If you have not been contacted, and you think you should have been, your specialist consultant will be able to confirm if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatments.”
The text highlighted in yellow above, suggests that patients on sulfasalazine (for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease [inflammatory bowel diseases] or rheumatoid arthritis), are likely to be considered for monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments.
If you have a query about the information provided, please reply to this email.
If you disagree with how we have interpreted the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in answering your request, you can ask for an internal review. Please reply to this email, within two months of this reply, specifying that you would like an Internal Review to be carried out.
Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you were to remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the internal review, you would have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please bear in mind that the Information Commissioner will not normally review our handling of your request unless you have first contacted us to conduct an internal review. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Yours sincerely
MHRA Customer Experience Centre