Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00158:clause:4_1:p240
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00158
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 4 cl 1 (pt 240/312)
Character Range: 16981570–16987546

be accompanied with the assessment of response, conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks from cessation of the most recent course of biological medicine. It is recommended that an application for the continuing treatment be submitted no later than 4 weeks from the date of completion of the most recent course of treatment. This is to ensure treatment continuity for those who meet the continuing restriction.
                                                                                                                           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.
C15891              P15891         CN15891          Bimekizumab                                                            Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Compliance with Written Authority Required procedures
                                                                                                                           Initial treatment - Initial 1 (New patient)
                                                                                                                           Patient must not have received PBS-subsidised treatment with a biological medicine for this condition; AND
                                                                                                                           Patient must have had chronic lower back pain and stiffness for 3 or more months that is relieved by exercise but not rest; 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 have one or more of the following: (a) enthesitis (heel); (b) uveitis; (c) dactylitis; (d) psoriasis; (e) inflammatory bowel disease; or (f) positive for Human Leukocyte Antigen B27 (HLA-B27); AND
                                                                                                                           The condition must not be radiographically evidenced on plain x-ray of Grade II bilateral sacroiliitis or Grade III or IV unilateral sacroiliitis; AND
                                                                                                                           The condition must be non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, as defined by Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria; AND
                                                                                                                           The condition must be sacroiliitis with active inflammation and/or oedema on non-contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); AND
                                                                                                                           The condition must have presence of Bone Marrow Oedema (BMO) depicted as a hyperintense signal on a Short Tau Inversion Recovery (STIR) image (or equivalent); AND
                                                                                                                           The condition must have BMO depicted as a hypointense signal on a T1 weighted image (without gadolinium); AND
                                                                                                                           The treatment must not exceed a maximum of 16 weeks with this drug under this restriction.
                                                                                                                           Must be treated by a rheumatologist; OR
                                                                                                                           Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
                                                                                                                           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