Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00124:clause:3_1:p428
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00124
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 3 cl 1 (pt 428/476)
Character Range: 3614165–3619913

CRP level is provided with the initial application, the same marker must be used to determine response.
                                                                                                                                            At the time of the authority application, medical practitioners should request the appropriate number of vials of appropriate strength to provide sufficient drug, based on the weight of the patient, for a single infusion at a dose of 8 mg per kg. A separate authority prescription form must be completed for each strength requested.
                                                                                                                                            Up to a maximum of 5 repeats will be authorised.
                                                                                                                                            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).
                                                                                                                                            An application for the continuing treatment must 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 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.
                                                                                                                                            If a patient has either failed or ceased to respond to a PBS‑subsidised biological medicine for this condition 5 times, they will not be eligible to receive further PBS‑subsidised treatment with a biological medicine for this condition.
                                                                                                                                            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.
                                                                       C14491                                                               Severe active rheumatoid arthritis                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Compliance with Written Authority Required procedures
                                                                                                                                            Initial treatment ‑ Initial 1 (new patient)
                                                                                                                                            Must be treated by a rheumatologist; OR
                                                                                                                                            Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
                                                                                                                                            Patient must not have received PBS‑subsidised treatment with a biological medicine for this condition; AND
                                                                                                                                            Patient must have failed, in the 24 months immediately prior to the date of the application, to achieve an adequate response to a trial of at least 6 months of intensive treatment with disease modifying anti‑rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) which must include at least 3 months continuous treatment with at least 2 DMARDs, one of which must be methotrexate at a dose of at least 20 mg weekly plus one of the following: (i) hydroxychloroquine at a dose of at least 200 mg daily; (ii) leflunomide at a dose of at least 10 mg daily; (iii) sulfasalazine at a dose of at