Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00158:clause:4_1:p256
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2025C00158
Segment Type: clause
Provision Reference: sch 4 cl 1 (pt 256/312)
Character Range: 17075773–17082055

PPI treatment regimen. Exclude non-adherence as a cause of inadequate control before accessing treatment under this restriction.
C15937              P15937         CN15937          Bimekizumab                                                            Ankylosing spondylitis                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Compliance with Written Authority Required procedures
                                                                                                                           Continuing treatment
                                                                                                                           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
                                                                                                                           Patient must not receive more than 24 weeks of treatment under this restriction.
                                                                                                                           Patient must be at least 18 years of age.
                                                                                                                           Must be treated by a rheumatologist; OR
                                                                                                                           Must be treated by a clinical immunologist with expertise in the management of ankylosing spondylitis.
                                                                                                                           The authority application must be made in writing and must include:
                                                                                                                           (1) details of the proposed prescription; 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 adequate response is defined as an improvement from baseline of at least 2 units (on a scale of 0-10) in the BASDAI score combined with at least 1 of the following:
                                                                                                                           (a) an ESR measurement no greater than 25 mm per hour; or
                                                                                                                           (b) a CRP measurement no greater than 10 mg per L; or
                                                                                                                           (c) an ESR or CRP measurement reduced by at least 20% from baseline.
                                                                                                                           Where only 1 acute phase reactant measurement is supplied in the first application for PBS-subsidised treatment, that same marker must be measured and used to assess all future responses to treatment.
                                                                                                                           The assessment of response to treatment must be documented in the patient's medical records.
                                                                                                                           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 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.
                                                                                                                           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.
C15938              P15938         CN15938          Bimekizumab