Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Severe Crohn disease

Continuing treatment

Patient must have received this drug (in any form) as their most recent course of PBS-subsidised targeted therapy treatment for this condition; AND

Patient must have an adequate response to this drug defined as a reduction in Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI) Score to a level no greater than 150 if assessed by CDAI or if affected by extensive small intestine disease; or

Patient must have an adequate response to this drug defined as (a) an improvement of intestinal inflammation as demonstrated by: (i) blood: normalisation of the platelet count, or an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) level no greater than 25 mm per hour, or a C-reactive protein (CRP) level no greater than 15 mg per L; or (ii) faeces: normalisation of lactoferrin or calprotectin level; or (iii) evidence of mucosal healing, as demonstrated by diagnostic imaging findings, compared to the baseline assessment; or (b) reversal of high faecal output state; or (c) avoidance of the need for surgery or total parenteral nutrition (TPN), if affected by short gut syndrome, extensive small intestine or is an ostomy patient; AND

Patient must not receive more than 24 weeks of treatment under this restriction per authority application; AND

Must be treated by a gastroenterologist; or

Must be treated by a consultant physician [internal medicine specialising in gastroenterology]; or

Must be treated by a consultant physician [general medicine specialising in gastroenterology]; AND

Patient must be at least 18 years of age.

The measurement of response to the prior course of therapy must be documented in the patient's medical notes.

A maximum quantity to provide for each continuing course of this drug consisting of 3 doses at 5 mg per kg body weight per dose will be authorised.

Patients are eligible to receive continuing treatment with this drug in courses of up to 24 weeks providing they continue to sustain a response.

If a patient does not demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition within this treatment cycle. Serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment is not considered as a treatment failure.

A patient may re-trial this drug after a minimum of 12 months have elapsed between the date the last prescription for a PBS-subsidised targeted therapy was approved in this cycle and the date of the first application under a new cycle under the Initial 3 treatment restriction.