The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse ublituximab (Briumvi®) after price negotiations from the basic healthcare package. This medicinal product can be used for certain patients with multiple sclerosis. The reason for this advice was the placing of the medicinal product in the so-called ‘lock procedure for expensive medicinal products’.
Ublituximab is intended for certain people with multiple sclerosis
Ublituximab is the active substance. The brand name is Briumvi®. The medicinal product is administered via an IV into the blood.
It can be used in people with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in the brain and spinal cord in which the body’s own immune system attacks certain nerve cells. This causes inflammations in different locations. The protective layer of myelin, which coats the nerve endings, is destroyed. A nerve ending is a kind of 'cable’ that transmits electrical signals from the nerve cell to other parts of the brain. Myelin supports this process, making it fast and easy. If this protective layer is destroyed, some parts of the brain can no longer communicate properly with each other. They no longer function properly. People with MS can develop all kinds of symptoms, such as problems with movement, speech, eyesight, concentration and memory. The symptoms vary per person, but almost all people with MS are often very tired. MS is more common in women than in men.
The medicinal product can be used in people with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). Relapsing means that patients have periods of inflammatory attacks. Remitting means that these periods alternate with symptom-free periods or recovery. In people with RRMS, the seizures permanently damage the nerves and brain, and their symptoms get progressively worse. They eventually need a wheelchair to move around.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of ublituximab
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of VWS to reimburse ublituximab (Briumvi®) from the basic healthcare package after price negotiations. After successful price negotiations, the price of this medicinal product should not exceed the net price of standard ocrelizumab treatment.
More information or questions?
If you have any questions about this advice, please send your question to the National Health Care Institute via warcg@zinl.nl. If you have questions about the reimbursement of a medicinal product, the personal expenses or whether you should pay a contribution, please ask your health insurance provider.
How did the advice come about?
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister after issuing a package advice. The final decision as to whether or not reimbursement from the basic health care package will take place lies with the Minister.
Lock procedure for expensive medicinal products
The Minister has placed ublituximab for this indication in the lock procedure for expensive medicinal products. A medicinal product in this lock procedure will not be eligible for reimbursement from the basic health care package until:
- there is a positive package advice from the National Health Care Institute;
- there are arrangements and safeguards for appropriateness in place;
- price reductions have been successfully negotiated with the manufacturer.
For more information, see the page ‘Lock procedure for expensive medicinal products’.