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Bevacizumab for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer: 24 month predicted versus actual analysis

Page last updated: 15 March 2019

Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)

September 2018

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the predicted and actual utilisation of bevacizumab since PBS listing on 1 August 2014.

Listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (abridged)

Bevacizumab is subsidised through the PBS for previously untreated advanced FIGO Stage IIIB, IIIC or Stage IV epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer where:

  • the condition is suboptimally debulked (if the patient presents with Stage IIIB or Stage IIIC disease); and
  • the patient has a WHO performance status of 2 or less; and
  • the treatment is commenced in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy. 

The maximum PBS subsidised dose is 7.5 mg per kg every 3 weeks for not more than 18 cycles.

Data Source / methodology

Data for bevacizumab was extracted from the Department of Human Services (DHS) prescription databases from the date of listing on the PBS Schedule on 1 August 2014 to 31 July 2018. Fact of death data were obtained from DHS for patients who initiated bevacizumab between 1 August 2014 and 31 May 2018.

Key Findings

  • Since listing, 17,550 prescriptions of bevacizumab were supplied to 1,765 patients under the PBS item codes for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer.
  • The number of prescriptions and treated patients have been stable since the beginning of 2016.
  • The predicted versus actual analysis showed that the number of treated patients was close to the number predicted, but the number of prescriptions supplied was lower than predicted. The difference was likely due to some patients receiving less than the maximum allowed 18 cycles of bevacizumab.
  • PBS data show 14% of bevacizumab prescriptions supplied under the PBS item codes for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer were for men. This could indicate incorrect code selection by prescribers (for example for colorectal cancer) or use outside of the PBS subsidised criteria for other indications.

Full Report