Loading
If this is the first time anyone has visited this substance, we may be fetching live data from TGA Product Information, PBS, and state framework sources — that can take up to a minute. Cached substances load in a second or two.
Severe chronic plaque psoriasis Clinical criteria: Treatment Phase: Continuing treatment, Whole body Patient must have received this drug as their most recent course of PBS-subsidised biological medicine treatment for this condition, AND Patient must have demonstrated an adequate response to treatment with this drug, AND The treatment must be as systemic monotherapy (other than methotrexate), AND Patient must not receive more than 24 weeks of treatment per continuing treatment course authorised under this restriction. Population criteria: Patient must be aged 18 years or older. Treatment criteria: Must be treated by a dermatologist. An adequate response to treatment is defined as: A Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score which is reduced by 75% or more, or is sustained at this level, when compared with the baseline value for this treatment cycle. The authority application must be made in writing and must include: (a) a completed authority prescription form(s); and (b) a completed Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis PBS Authority Application - Supporting Information Form which includes the completed Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) calculation sheet including the date of the assessment of the patient's condition. The most recent PASI assessment must be no more than 1 month old at the time of application. Approval will be based on the PASI assessment of response to the most recent course of treatment with this drug. It is recommended that an application for the continuing treatment is submitted to the Department of Human Services no later than 1 month from the date of completion of the most recent course of treatment. This is to ensure continuity of treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition. Where a response assessment is not conducted within the required timeframe, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug, unless the patient has experienced a serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment. If a patient fails to demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug under this restriction they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition within this treatment cycle. A patient may re-trial this drug after a minimum of 5 years have elapsed between the date the last prescription for a PBS-subsidised biological medicine was approved in this cycle and the date of the first application under a new cycle under the Initial 3 treatment restriction.
“Secukinumab is a fully human IgG1 antibody that selectively binds to and neutralises the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17A).”
Working under the parallel aged-care framework? Aged-care equivalent →
Ankylosing spondylitis Clinical criteria: Treatment Phase: Initial treatment - Initial 1 (new patient) The condition must be either radiologically (plain X-ray) confirmed: (i) Grade II bilateral sacroiliitis; (ii) Grade III unilateral sacroiliitis, AND Patient must not have received PBS-subsidised treatment with a biological medicine for this condition, AND Patient must have at least 2 of the following: (i) low back pain and stiffness for 3 or more months that is relieved by exercise but not by rest; (ii) limitation of motion of the lumbar spine in the sagittal and the frontal planes as determined by a score of at least 1 on each of the lumbar flexion and lumbar side flexion measurements of the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI); (iii) limitation of chest expansion relative to normal values for age and gender, AND Patient must have failed to achieve an adequate response following treatment with at least 2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), whilst completing an appropriate exercise program, for a total period of 3 months, AND Patient must not receive more than 16 weeks of treatment under this restriction. Population criteria: Patient must be at least 18 years of age. Treatment criteria: Must be treated by a rheumatologist; OR Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of ankylosing spondylitis. The application must include details of the NSAIDs trialled, their doses and duration of treatment. If the NSAID dose is less than the maximum recommended dose in the relevant TGA-approved Product Information, the application must include the reason a higher dose cannot be used. If treatment with NSAIDs is contraindicated according to the relevant TGA-approved Product Information, the application must provide details of the contraindication. If intolerance to NSAID treatment develops during the relevant period of use which is of a severity to necessitate permanent treatment withdrawal, the application must provide details of the nature and severity of this intolerance. The following criteria indicate failure to achieve an adequate response and must be demonstrated at the time of the initial application: (a) a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) of at least 4 on a 0-10 scale; and (b) an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) greater than 25 mm per hour or a C-reactive protein (CRP) level greater than 10 mg per L. The baseline BASDAI score and ESR or CRP level must be determined at the completion of the 3 month NSAID and exercise trial, but prior to ceasing NSAID treatment. All measurements must be no more than 4 weeks old at the time of initial application. If the above requirement to demonstrate an elevated ESR or CRP cannot be met, the application must state the reason this criterion cannot be satisfied. The authority application must be made in writing and must include: (1) a completed authority prescription form; and (2) a completed authority application form relevant to the indication and treatment phase (the latest version is located on the website specified in the Administrative Advice). The following must be provided at the time of application and documented in the patient's medical records: (i) details (name of the radiology report provider, date of the radiology report and unique identifying number/code that links report to the individual patient) of the radiological report confirming Grade II bilateral sacroiliitis or Grade III unilateral sacroiliitis; and (ii) a baseline BASDAI score; and (iii) a completed Exercise Program Self Certification Form included in the supporting information form; and (iv) baseline ESR and/or CRP level. An assessment of a patient's response to this initial course of treatment must be conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks prior the completion of this course of treatment. Where a response assessment is not conducted within these timeframes, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug. If a patient fails to demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition within this treatment cycle. Serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment is not considered as a treatment failure.
Severe psoriatic arthritis Clinical criteria: Treatment Phase: Initial treatment - Initial 1 (new patient) Treatment criteria: Must be treated by a rheumatologist; OR Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of psoriatic arthritis. Patient must not have received PBS-subsidised treatment with a biological medicine for this condition, AND Patient must have failed to achieve an adequate response to methotrexate at a dose of at least 20 mg weekly for a minimum period of 3 months, AND Patient must have failed to achieve an adequate response to sulfasalazine at a dose of at least 2 g per day for a minimum period of 3 months; OR Patient must have failed to achieve an adequate response to leflunomide at a dose of up to 20 mg daily for a minimum period of 3 months, AND Patient must not receive more than 16 weeks of treatment under this restriction. Population criteria: Patient must be aged 18 years or older. Where treatment with methotrexate, sulfasalazine or leflunomide is contraindicated according to the relevant TGA-approved Product Information, details must be provided at the time of application. Where intolerance to treatment with methotrexate, sulfasalazine or leflunomide developed during the relevant period of use, which was of a severity to necessitate permanent treatment withdrawal, details of the degree of this toxicity must be provided at the time of application. The following initiation criteria indicate failure to achieve an adequate response and must be demonstrated in all patients at the time of the initial application: an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) greater than 25 mm per hour or a C-reactive protein (CRP) level greater than 15 mg per L; and either (a) an active joint count of at least 20 active (swollen and tender) joints; or (b) at least 4 active joints from the following list of major joints: (i) elbow, wrist, knee and/or ankle (assessed as swollen and tender); and/or (ii) shoulder and/or hip (assessed as pain in passive movement and restriction of passive movement, where pain and limitation of movement are due to active disease and not irreversible damage such as joint destruction or bony overgrowth). If the above requirement to demonstrate an elevated ESR or CRP cannot be met, the application must state the reasons why this criterion cannot be satisfied. The authority application must be made in writing and must include: (1) a completed authority prescription form(s); and (2) a completed Severe Psoriatic Arthritis PBS Authority Application - Supporting Information Form. An assessment of a patient's response to an initial course of treatment must be conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy. An application for the continuing treatment must be accompanied with the assessment of response and submitted to the Department of Human Services no later than 4 weeks from the date of completion of the most recent course of treatment. This will enable ongoing treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment. Where the response assessment is not submitted within this timeframe, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug. If a patient fails to demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition. Serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment is not considered as a treatment failure.
Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis Clinical criteria: Treatment Phase: Initial 1 (New patient), Initial 2 (Change or recommencement of treatment after a break in biological medicine of less than 5 years) or Initial 3 (Recommencement of treatment after a break in biological medicine of more than 5 years) - balance of supply Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug for this condition under the Initial 1 (new patients) restriction to complete 20 weeks treatment; OR Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug for this condition under the Initial 2 (change or recommencement of treatment after a break in biological medicine of less than 5 years) restriction to complete 20 weeks treatment; OR Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug for this condition under the Initial 3 (recommencement of treatment after a break in biological medicine of more than 5 years) restriction to complete 20 weeks treatment, AND The treatment must provide no more than the balance of up to 20 weeks treatment. Treatment criteria: Must be treated by a rheumatologist; OR Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
Moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa Clinical criteria: Treatment Phase: Continuing treatment Patient must have previously received PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition, AND Patient must have demonstrated a response to treatment with this drug for this condition. Treatment criteria: Must be treated by a dermatologist. A response to treatment is defined as: Achieving Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) of a 50% reduction in AN count compared to baseline with no increase in abscesses or draining fistulae. An application for the continuing treatment must be accompanied with the assessment of response conducted following a minimum of 16 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks from cessation of the most recent course of treatment. This will enable ongoing treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment. Where a response assessment is not conducted within the required timeframe, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug, unless the patient has experienced a serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment. A maximum of 24 weeks treatment will be authorised under this restriction per continuing treatment. The authority application must be made via the Online PBS Authorities System, or in writing via HPOS form upload or mail and must include: (i) the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Clinical Response (HiSCR) result. If the application is submitted through HPOS form upload or mail, it must include: (i) details of the proposed prescription(s); and (ii) a completed authority application form relevant to the indication and treatment phase (the latest version is located on the website specified in the Administrative Advice).
Curated subset. The full adverse-effect list is in the TGA Product Information; click any citation above to open it.