Cladribine for relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: predicted versus actual analysis, February 2022
Page last updated: 4 July 2022
Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)
February 2022
Abstract
Purpose
To review the utilisation of PBS listed medicines for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), including an assessment of the predicted versus actual use of cladribine.
Date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Cladribine was PBS listed for the treatment of RRMS on 1 January 2019.
Data Source / methodology
Data extracted from the PBS database maintained by Department of Health, processed by Services Australia were used for analyses.
Key Findings
- In 2019, 179,907 RRMS prescriptions were supplied to 22,153 patients.
- In 2020, 177,884 RRMS prescriptions were supplied to 22,714 patients.
- There were 1,130 and 1,407 patients treated with cladribine during the first and second year of listing respectively, which was xx than estimated.
- There were 3,295 cladribine prescriptions dispensed during the first year of listing which was xx than estimated. There were 4,147 cladribine prescriptions dispensed during the second year of listing, which was xx than estimated.
- The most common age group initiating any RRMS treatment from 2014 onwards was 40-44 years. Overall, there was a greater proportion of females initiating RRMS treatment compared to males (73.4%).
- The most common age group of patients initiating cladribine treatment was 45-49 years old (15.8% of patients). Overall, there was a greater proportion of females initiating cladribine treatment compared to males (73.9%).
- There is a shift in the RRMS market away from the older generation RRMS treatments.
Full Report
