Background
To analyse the uptake & utilisation of Patient Access Programs (PAP) run by Bristol Myers Squibb Australia (BMSA) and Celgene Australia (CEL), both BMS companies.
Methods
Retrospective review of PAP enrolment data from the medical operations database of BMSA and CEL.
Results
From January 2016 to April 2020, a total of 7,198 patients were enrolled in a PAP (see Table)
|
Indication* |
Drug |
Number of Enrolled Patients |
Number of Participating Institutions |
|
Metastatic melanoma, nivolumab monotherapy |
nivolumab |
46 |
24 |
|
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) |
nivolumab |
3,517 |
199 |
|
Metastatic melanoma, nivolumab plus ipilimumab (mMELcomb) |
nivolumab |
1,453 |
131 |
|
Head and neck cancer |
nivolumab |
89 |
51 |
|
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) |
nivolumab |
21 |
19 |
|
Adjuvant Melanoma (AdjMEL) |
nivolumab |
1706 |
167 |
|
Maintenance Multiple Myeloma |
lenalidomide |
366 |
82 |
* Refer to PI for full details of approved indications. Listed in order of approval.
On average, across these 7 programs, introduction of a PAP reduced time between TGA registration and affordable access to medicines from 72.1 weeks to 32.7 weeks.
Physician utilisation varied from 16 (RCC) to 395 (NSCLC). 231 unique institutions participated, with broadest utilisation in the NSCLC program (n=199).
The larger nivolumab programs (NSCLC, AdjMEL & mMELcomb) demonstrated similar utilisation split by state/territory that correlated with the respective cancers’ incidence. New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria contributed a combined total usage of over three quarters. PAPs were utilised across both metropolitan (n=115) and rural (n=113) institutions.
Conclusions:
The choices made by BMSA and CEL to open a select number of PAPs post TGA registration reduced the time to affordable access ahead of reimbursement. Demand for PAPs was widespread across Australian institutions and access was equitable by state and territory split and metropolitan versus rural enrolment.