Around 25,000 rheumatoid arthritis patients are to benefit from new drugs approved for use on the NHS. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence gave the green light to several drugs for people with a moderate form of the disease who have not responded to conventional therapies. The drugs are adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab, taken with methotrexate for use in the NHS. Dr Natalie Carter, of Versus Arthritis, said the drugs 'will enable thousands more people to benefit from these treatments'. Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term condition that causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints and around 400,000 people are affected.