Brenzys authority

MSD has confirmed that effective 01 Dec its biologic medicine Brenzys (etanercept) can be prescribed with a Streamlined Authority, eliminating the need for doctors to submit blood test results and joint counts to the Health Department in order to justify ongoing subsidised treatment. Brenzys is PBS listed for patients with a number of chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, with etanercept currently prescribed to about 8,800 patients in Australia.

MSD said the red tape removal marks a “defining point in efforts to support the uptake of biosimilars in Australia,” with the company’s managing director, Riad El-Dada saying it was a positive development for patients, prescribers and pharmacists.

The streamlined authority listing applies only to Brenzys for subsequent continuing treatments, and therefore the medication cannot be substituted at pharmacy.