Kinerit withdrawal
October 26, 2010
THE Health Department has
announced the withdrawal of
biological disease modifying antirheumatic
drug anakinra (Kineret)
from the PBS effective 01 Dec.
The move follows a recent
recommendation by the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory
Committee for a “significant price
reduction” for all drugs of this type
for treatment of severe active
rheumatoid arthritis, following a
review of the clinical and cost-effectiveness
of the medications.
A new subsidy price has been
agreed between the govt and
sponsors; however the sponsor of
Kineret, Invida Australia Pty Ltd,
has not agreed to the new price.
“As a result it will be removed
from the PBS from 1 December
2010. This date has been chosen
to give patients sufficient time to
transition to other PBS subsidised
treatments,” the department said.
Currently there are five other
bDMARDs subsidised by the PBS
for the condition - abatacept
(Orencia), adalimumab (Humira),
etanercept (Enbrel), infliximab
(Remicade) and rituximab
(Mabthera).
A further three bDMARDs for
rhemautoid arthritis are also
subsidised - certolizumab pegol
(Cimzia), golimumab (Simponi) and
tocilizumab (Actemra).
PBS prescriptions for Kineret will
remain valid until 30 Nov, with
patients currently receiving the
medication advised to contact their
prescriber “to discuss alternative
subsidised treatment options”.
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