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Ocrelizumab for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, October 2020

Page last updated: 15 March 2021

Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)

October 2020

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the predicted and actual utilisation of ocrelizumab for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) since it was PBS listed for this indication.

Date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)

Ocrelizumab was PBS listed for the treatment of RRMS on 1 February 2018.

Data Source / methodology

The analysis used PBS prescriptions data maintained by Department of Health, processed by Services Australia.

Key Findings

  • The number of patients treated with ocrelizumab was slightly less than predicted in the first year of listing and close to predicted in the second year of listing. The number of prescriptions was less than predicted in both years due to the number of scripts per patient being slightly less than predicted.
  • The submission assumption that the listing of ocrelizumab would not increase the growth rate of the RRMS market was approximately correct.
  • The mix of medicines within the RRMS market is dynamic with the relatively recently listed medicines, ocrelizumab (listed 1 February 2018) and cladribine (listed 1 January 2019), rapidly substituting for older medicines.
  • The distribution of medicine form (i.e. injection, oral or infusion) varies between Very Remote, Remote and non-remote RRMA patients. It appears that the frequency of dosing and accessibility to infusion services have an effect on the choice of medicine form depending on the remoteness of the patient.

Full Report

PDF version of Full Report (PDF 899KB)
Word version of Full Report (Word 132KB)