Topiramate, tablets, 25 mg and 50 mg, Topamax®, July 2006
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Public Summary Document
Product: Topiramate, tablets, 25 mg and 50 mg, Topamax®
Sponsor: Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd
Date of PBAC Consideration: July 2006
1. Purpose of Application
The application sought to add to the current listing for epilepsy, an authority required
listing for the prophylactic treatment of migraine.
2. Background
Topiramate was first listed on the PBS in August 1997 with an authority required listing
for the treatment of partial epileptic seizures which are not controlled satisfactorily
by other anti-epileptic drugs. The restriction was amended in March 2000 to include
primarily generalised tonic-clonic epileptic seizures and seizures of the Lennox-Gastaut
syndrome.
3. Registration Status
Topiramate tablets (25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, and 200 mg) and sprinkle capsules (15 mg,
25 mg and 50 mg) are registered by the TGA for prophylaxis of migraine headache in
adults.
4. Requested Listing and PBAC’s view
Authority required
Prophylaxis of migraine in adults who are experiencing an average of three or more
migraines per month, and who:
- have failed to achieve an adequate response to beta-blockers at the recommended dose, for a period of at least 3 months, where adequate response is defined as a reduction in migraine frequency of at least 50%; or
- have experienced treatment-limiting adverse effects with a beta-blocker; or
- have one or more of the contraindications listed in the TGA-approved Product Information
for beta-blockers;
AND - have failed to achieve an adequate response to pizotifen at a dose of at least 1.5 mg/day, for a period of at least 3 months, where adequate response is defined as a reduction in migraine frequency of at least 50%; or
- have experienced treatment-limiting adverse effects with pizotifen; or
- have one or more of the contraindications listed in the TGA-approved Product Information for pizotifen.
For PBAC’s view, see Recommendation and Reasons.
5. Clinical place for the proposed therapy:
For use in migraine prophylaxis in patients who have failed or are unable to tolerate
other treatments.
6. Comparator
The submission nominated placebo as the comparator. The PBAC agreed the comparator
was appropriate.
7. Clinical Trials
The submission presented two randomised trials (Silberstein et al 2004 and Brandes
et al 2004) as key evidence, in which topiramate 50 mg/day, 100 mg/day and 200 mg/day
were compared with placebo respectively in migraine patients over 26 weeks. Another
trial (Silvestrini et al 2003) was also provided as key evidence, comparing topiramate
50 mg/day with placebo in patients who failed at least four prior prophylactic therapies
over a 9-week period.
The trials were published at the time of the submission as follows:
Trial/First author | Publication title | Publication citation |
---|---|---|
Silberstein JD | A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, dose-response study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topiramate in the prophylaxis of migraine | Archives of Neurology, 2004:61, no. 4;490-495. |
Brandes JL | A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-response study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topiramate in the prophylaxis of migraine. | Journal of the American Medical Association,2004:291, no. 8;965-973. |
Silvestrini M | "Topiramate in the treatment of chronic migraine | Cephalalgia, 2003:23, no. 8; 820-824. |
8. Results of Trials
The submission pooled analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference
in responder rate comparing the recommended topiramate dose of 100 mg /day with placebo.
Although from the Silberstein et al 2004 and Brandes et al 2004 trials, topiramate
seems to have significant treatment effects over placebo, the applicability of these
results to the intended population for topiramate on the PBS was uncertain. It was
not clear whether the patients who failed two or more prior prophylactic medications
(the PBS intended population) would demonstrate similar treatment effects to those
patients who had received (including both failed and responded) one or two prior prophylactic
medications
Across all topiramate treatment groups, the most commonly reported adverse events
were related to the central and peripheral nervous system (i.e., neurologic) or were
psychiatric in nature. Paresthesia was the most frequently occurring adverse event
in patients receiving topiramate, with higher incidence (35%-51%) than in the placebo
group (6%). Other common neurologic or psychiatric adverse events that were reported
at least twice as frequently in all topiramate dose groups compared with the placebo
group included language problems (6.5%-8.0% vs. 1.9%), anorexia (9%-15%% vs. 6%),
difficulty with memory (7%-11% vs. 2%), anxiety (4%-6% vs. 2%), mood problems (3%-7%
vs. 2%), difficulty with concentration/attention (3%-12% vs. 2%), and nervousness
(3.6%-4.8% vs. 1.9%).
9. Clinical Claim
The submission described topiramate as having significant advantages in effectiveness
over placebo but having more toxicity.
For PBAC’s views see Recommendation and Reasons.
10. Economic Analysis
A preliminary economic evaluation was presented. The resources included were the costs
of topiramate, acute migraine attack treatment medications (rescue medications), and
the administration of rescue medications.The outcomes were response rate, defined
as the proportion of subjects who had a 50% or greater reduction in their average
monthly migraine period rate from baseline, and the number of migraine days.
The trial-based incremental cost per extra responder gained was estimated to be <$15,000.
The trial-based incremental cost per extra migraine day avoided was estimated to be
<$15,000.
A modelled economic evaluation was presented using a cost-utility approach. The base
case modelled incremental cost per additional QALY was estimated to be in the range
$15,000 - $45,000.
11. Estimated PBS Usage and Financial Implications
The submission stated that the likely number of patients per year is in the range
10,000 to 50,000 in Year 5 of listing. The PES commentary advised that this is a likely
under-estimate in the submission.
The submission estimated that the financial cost/year to the PBS was < $10 million
in Year 5.
12. Recommendation and Reasons
The PBAC noted that the submission requested a listing in patients who have either
failed or developed intolerance to beta-blockers and pizotifen, or in whom these agents
are contra-indicated.
Although from the Silberstein et al 2004 and Brandes et al 2004 trials , topiramate
seems to have significant treatment effects over placebo, the appropriate comparator
for last line therapy, the PBAC considered that the applicability of these results
to the intended population for topiramate on the PBS is uncertain, since the trials
explicitly excluded the patients who had failed more than two prior migraine prophylactic
medications, while the requested restriction on the PBS requires that patients have
failed or are contraindicated for at least 2 migraine prophylactic medications. Therefore
the PBAC expressed the view that overlap between the trial population and the population
for whom PBS listing is sought is likely to be minimal.
The PBAC noted that there were a number of issues with the modelled economic evaluation
in addition to the use of response rates from a trial which was not representative
of the patient group for whom listing was sought.
The PBAC thus rejected the submission because of uncertain benefit in the population
in whom listing was requested and the resulting uncertain cost-effectiveness.
13. Context for Decision
The PBAC helps decide whether and, if so, how medicines should be subsidised in Australia.
It considers submissions in this context. A PBAC decision not to recommend listing
or not to recommend changing a listing does not represent a final PBAC view about
the merits of the medicine. A company can resubmit to the PBAC or seek independent
review of the PBAC decision.
14. Sponsor’s Comment
Due to the strong clinical need for an additional prophylactic treatment in migraine, Janssen-Cilag has engaged in discussions with the PBAC and clinicians to clarify and address issues raised by the Committee with a view to ensuring access to topiramate for migraine prophylaxis through the PBS.