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Rare Cancers brokers new funding model
Posted 15 April 2016
Rare Cancers Australia is calling for rare cancer indications to be funded within reimbursement processes for more common cancers in a kind of orphan process, in order to improve access.
In a pre-budget submission just released, the body says that although the PBAC is sympathetic to orphan medicines, the majority of medicines that are available for rare cancers are not orphan but are listed for more common cancers. The new PD-1 inhibitors re an example.
Targeted drugs where the subgroup is a specific genetic signature or phenotype, could also be used for a rare cancer with the same genetic signature of phenotype. However, the rare indication is not always reimbursed.
As an example, they use a patient with ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer being prescribed Pfizer's Xalkori (crizotinib), which is available via the PBS. However, two patients, one with non-small cell lung cancer with the rarer ROS1 mutation and another with another ALK+ cancer, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, have not been able to get access to the drug on the PBS even though they are responding well to treatment.
Rare Cancers suggests a framework within reimbursement submissions for common cancers which includes reimbursement for rare cancers.
"Therefore, when new, innovative treatments are considered by the PBAC for 'common cancers', the PBAC may also include in its assessment the super rare indications that may be identified as likely targets of the treatment, and the same flexibility for evidence is applied as though the treatment were orphan," the group said.
"The patients with these super rare cancers will never have access to these newer, highly targeted medicines if we do not take action on their behalf."
Alexandra Cain
alexandra.cain@lushmedia.com.au
Posted 15 April 2016
Rare Cancers Australia is calling for rare cancer indications to be funded within reimbursement processes for more common cancers in a kind of orphan process, in order to improve access.
In a pre-budget submission just released, the body says that although the PBAC is sympathetic to orphan medicines, the majority of medicines that are available for rare cancers are not orphan but are listed for more common cancers. The new PD-1 inhibitors re an example.
Targeted drugs where the subgroup is a specific genetic signature or phenotype, could also be used for a rare cancer with the same genetic signature of phenotype. However, the rare indication is not always reimbursed.
As an example, they use a patient with ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer being prescribed Pfizer's Xalkori (crizotinib), which is available via the PBS. However, two patients, one with non-small cell lung cancer with the rarer ROS1 mutation and another with another ALK+ cancer, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, have not been able to get access to the drug on the PBS even though they are responding well to treatment.
Rare Cancers suggests a framework within reimbursement submissions for common cancers which includes reimbursement for rare cancers.
"Therefore, when new, innovative treatments are considered by the PBAC for 'common cancers', the PBAC may also include in its assessment the super rare indications that may be identified as likely targets of the treatment, and the same flexibility for evidence is applied as though the treatment were orphan," the group said.
"The patients with these super rare cancers will never have access to these newer, highly targeted medicines if we do not take action on their behalf."
Alexandra Cain
alexandra.cain@lushmedia.com.au
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