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

Ankylosing spondylitis

Continuing treatment

Patient must have received this drug as their most recent course of PBS-subsidised biological medicine treatment for this condition; AND

Patient must have demonstrated an adequate response to treatment with this drug; AND

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

Patient must be at least 18 years of age; AND

Must be treated by a rheumatologist; or

Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of ankylosing spondylitis.

The authority application must be made in writing and must include:

(1) a completed authority prescription form; and

(2) a completed authority application form relevant to the indication and treatment phase (the latest version is located on the website specified in the Administrative Advice).

An adequate response is defined as an improvement from baseline of at least 2 units (on a scale of 0-10) in the BASDAI score combined with at least 1 of the following:

(a) an ESR measurement no greater than 25 mm per hour; or

(b) a CRP measurement no greater than 10 mg per L; or

(c) an ESR or CRP measurement reduced by at least 20% from baseline.

Where only 1 acute phase reactant measurement is supplied in the first application for PBS-subsidised treatment, that same marker must be measured and used to assess all future responses to treatment.

The assessment of response to treatment must be documented in the patient's medical records.

An application for the continuing treatment must be accompanied with the assessment of response conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks from cessation of the most recent course of treatment. This will enable ongoing treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment.

Where a response assessment is not conducted within these timeframes, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug.

If a patient fails to 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 5 years have elapsed between the date the last prescription for a PBS-subsidised biological medicine was approved in this cycle and the date of the first application under a new cycle under the Initial 3 treatment restriction.

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

Ankylosing spondylitis

Continuing treatment - balance of supply

Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug under the Continuing treatment restriction to complete 24 weeks treatment; AND

The treatment must provide no more than the balance of up to 24 weeks treatment available under the above restriction; AND

Must be treated by a rheumatologist; or

Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of ankylosing spondylitis.