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Janssen wins Xmas kick-start
Posted 4 December 2018
Janssen's top earner Simponi will receive a welcome kick in December that should help the biologic stabilise its PBS earnings.
The second top PBS earner for Janssen after Stelara, Simponi brought in $67.4 million in pre-rebate R/PBS income to July 2018 - down one per cent year-on-year, with its earnings dropping steadily in 2018.
Health Minister Greg Hunt today (Thursday) moved to kick start the drug by expanding subsidised acccess to 4000 people with severe inflammatory spinal arthritis.
Part of the deal involved Janssen granting immediate compassionate access.
First PBS listed in August 2010 for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis as well as ankylosing spondylitis, Simponi received its first reboot in June when it was extended to ulcerative colitis.
Within two months, this had added almost $400,000 to the drug's pre-rebate income, helping to stem the loss of earnings resulting from it competing in a class facing increasing biosimilar competition.
Janssen managing director Bruce Goodwin described the expanded listing as a "significant investment in new treatment options for Australians with inflammatory arthritis".
"Today's announcement by Minister Hunt opens a new chapter in the way Simponi will be used in Australia," he said.
"We are delighted to join the government in helping change the treatment paradign for Australians with non-readiographic axial spondyloarthritis."
Recommended by PBAC in July, the announcement represents a quick listing for the drug and comes before the minister has announced November PBS listings, although there may not be any.
Megan Brodie
Posted 4 December 2018
Janssen's top earner Simponi will receive a welcome kick in December that should help the biologic stabilise its PBS earnings.
The second top PBS earner for Janssen after Stelara, Simponi brought in $67.4 million in pre-rebate R/PBS income to July 2018 - down one per cent year-on-year, with its earnings dropping steadily in 2018.
Health Minister Greg Hunt today (Thursday) moved to kick start the drug by expanding subsidised acccess to 4000 people with severe inflammatory spinal arthritis.
Part of the deal involved Janssen granting immediate compassionate access.
First PBS listed in August 2010 for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis as well as ankylosing spondylitis, Simponi received its first reboot in June when it was extended to ulcerative colitis.
Within two months, this had added almost $400,000 to the drug's pre-rebate income, helping to stem the loss of earnings resulting from it competing in a class facing increasing biosimilar competition.
Janssen managing director Bruce Goodwin described the expanded listing as a "significant investment in new treatment options for Australians with inflammatory arthritis".
"Today's announcement by Minister Hunt opens a new chapter in the way Simponi will be used in Australia," he said.
"We are delighted to join the government in helping change the treatment paradign for Australians with non-readiographic axial spondyloarthritis."
Recommended by PBAC in July, the announcement represents a quick listing for the drug and comes before the minister has announced November PBS listings, although there may not be any.
Megan Brodie
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