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Posted 31 October 2023 AM
Teva has clocked up a win with the expansion of its migraine drug Ajovy on the PBS for Australians with treatment-resistant high frequency episodic migraine (HFEM).
The listing follows a PBAC recommendation at last November's meeting and is expected to benefit about 6100 patients a year.
The expansion of Ajovy sees Teva pull ahead of rival Lilly which won a recommendation for the same patient population with its own CGRP inhibitor Emgality at the March 2022 meeting.
According to the Department of Health website, there has been no listing progress for Emgality in a year with Lilly advising it is not proceeding with reimbursement on the PBS at this time.
Both companies have been neck-and-neck in the fraught migraine space. Emgality was listed first for patients with chronic migraine in June 2021 with Ajovy winning a PBS berth two months later in August.
The listings followed an ugly battle between patient group Migraine Australia and the Federal Government.
From tomorrow, Australians with HFEM - defined as eight to 14 migraine days per month - who have tried and failed three or more prophylactic migraine medications, will have access to Ajovy, which the government says without subsidy would cost about $6700.
"Migraine is the leading cause of age-adjusted disability in Australia, and people with more frequent attacks have greater impacts on their ability to work, study and engage in family and recreational activities," Australia and New Zealand Headache Society president-elect, Dr Elspeth Hutton said.
"This new listing for (HFEM) will extend that chance for a better life to more Australians, and is enthusiastically welcomed by clinicians treating patients living with migraine.
"Patients with HFEM have a greater risk of progressing to chronic migraine, and like those with chronic migraine have a higher risks of developing comorbidities, such as medication overuse, poor mental health, obesity and cardiovascular illness, so effective treatment for his group not only improves their lives now, but is vital to improve health over the lifespan."
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Debilitating
Hinting that Teva came through on price, Public Summary Documents said the listing of Ajovy was requested on the basis of a cost-minimisation approach versus Emgality which PBAC decided "would be cost-effective for the HFEM patient population at a price no higher than the current effective price for patients with chronic migraine."
Ajovy was recommended for chronic migraine based on a cost-minimisation approach to Botox.
"Migraine is a debilitating condition. It is vital that medicines such as this be made available, at an affordable price, for Australians," Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said.
"The Government is committed to improving the lives of people living with migraine and this PBS listing will ensure they are able to access crucial treatment options."
Symptoms of migraine may include nausea, vomiting, visual and cognitive disturbances, fatigue, and sensitivities to light, sound, and movement.
"This condition can profoundly affect an individual's relationships, work, family life, overall well-being, and mental health," Migraine and Headache Australia's Carl Cincinnato said.
"Individuals with high-frequency episodic migraine face a higher risk of progressing to chronic migraine compared to other groups. Now, for the first time, these individuals have affordable access to a migraine-specific medication to help prevent attacks and potentially stave off chronic migraine."
Christine Spiteri
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