Biogen Idec is pleased to announce that from 1st March 2015 PLEGRIDY (peginterferon beta-1a) will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for treatment in patients with clinically definite relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS). PLEGRIDY is the first pegylated beta interferon to be PBS listed for MS, and is required to be injected subcutaneously once every two weeks. It is administered with the PLEGRIDY Pen, a new, ready to use autoinjector.
'We are delighted that patients with MS will have access to PLEGRIDY in Australia via the PBS," said Joerg Hermans, Managing Director, Biogen Idec Australia and New Zealand.
'PLEGRIDY offers people living with MS a new option which is effective and dosed once every two weeks via a new autoinjector pen."
PLEGRIDY is a subcutaneous injectable therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS), in which interferon beta-1a is pegylated to extend its half-life to permit a dosing schedule of once every two weeks. PLEGRIDY is a member of the interferon class of treatments for MS.
When you must not take PLEGRIDY
Do not use PLEGRIDY if you have an allergy to interferon beta, peginterferon beta-1a, or any other component of the formulation. Do not use PLEGRIDY if you are pregnant, have severe depression or think about committing suicide.
Before taking PLEGRIDY
Tell your doctor if you have or have had the following: Depression or problems with your moods, or if you have ever considered committing suicide, a seizure, fit or convulsion, liver problems, bleeding problems, a problem with your heart, thyroid problems, and bone marrow suppression.
Taking other medicines
PLEGRIDY may interact with some other medicines that are broken down by the liver, e.g. medicines to treat epilepsy and depression.
Side effects
Very common side effects of PLEGRIDY are -flu-like' symptoms, e.g. headache, tiredness, muscle aches, joint pain, shivering and fever, and injection site reactions including redness, itching and pain. Common side effects include headache, muscle pain, pain in your joints, arms, legs or neck, chills, feeling cold, feeling weak and tired, nausea or vomiting, pruritus, increase in body temperature. Other side effects not listed above may occur in some people. Rare, serious side effects include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, itching, nausea and vomiting, easy bruising of the skin, loss of appetite, tiredness, confusion, bleeding more easily than normal, dark coloured urine and pale stools.
MS is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild or severe, ranging from numbness in the limbs to paralysis or loss of vision. The progression, severity and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. MS affects more than 2.3 million people worldwide, with more than 23,000 sufferers in the Australia. Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) is the most common form of MS accounting for 85 percent of cases. It is characterized by clearly defined acute attacks with full recovery or with residual deficit upon recovery.
Question: What is PLEGRIDY?
Jeanette Lechner-Scott: Plegridy (peginterferon beta-1a) is a treatment for clinically definite relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS). PLEGRIDY is the first pegylated beta interferon to be PBS listed for MS, and is required to be injected subcutaneously once every two weeks (instead of every other day or three times a week). It is administered with the PLEGRIDY Pen, a new, ready to use auto-injector which allows patients to inject themselves at home.
Question: What does it mean for Australians suffering with MS to have PLEGRIDY added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)?
Jeanette Lechner-Scott: The reimbursement of Plegridy makes it more affordable and accessible to MS patients. Patients with MS have a variety of different symptoms and disease activity so different patients will require different treatments that satisfy their own needs. Having more choice in the field a major advantage so that neurologists can help tailor treatment to each individual patient.
Question: How will the reimbursement impact MS treatment in Australia?
Jeanette Lechner-Scott: Plegridy is a subcutaneous application, so it's a like an insulin injection, which is administered by the patient via a very tiny needle. It also allows the patient the option to inject only every two weeks. The treatment takes only five seconds to administer, which means treatment takes just over two minutes a year of the patient's time.
Question: How will the reimbursement impact MS treatment in Australia?
Jeanette Lechner-Scott: People with MS in Australia are very fortunate to have all 9 approved medications available on PBS. Their treatment can be tailored to the individual needs not to their budget.
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