Off‐label use of tumour necrosis factor‐alpha inhibitors and anakinra at an Australian tertiary hospital

Abstract

This study suggests that anti-TNFα may be beneficial for some off-label indications (e.g. sarcoidosis). However, the observational design of this study (and pre-existing research) limits the ability to infer causality and generalise results. We propose the creation of a mandatory drug register to monitor off-label use. Whilst comparative efficacy cannot be established without a matched placebo arm, a register would enable some reporting on effectiveness in rare diseases and identify infrequent but serious adverse events.