The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse crovalimab (PiaSky®) from the basic healthcare package. This medicine can be used for certain patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). PNH is a rare bone marrow disease. If the minister takes our advice, crovalimab will be included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS). Only then will this medicinal product be reimbursed from the health care insurer's basic healthcare package. However, we do recommend additional conditions for reimbursement.
Crovalimab is intended for certain people with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria
Crovalimab is the active substance. The brand name is Piasky®. The medicinal product is an injection. The first dose is administered into the vein. Subsequent doses are administered under the skin.
The medicine can be used in adult patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). PNH is a non-hereditary, rare bone marrow disease. Patients with PNH suffer from severe anaemia. Anaemia is caused by the increased breakdown of red blood cells, infections that cause the breakdown of white blood cells, and thrombosis. Haemoglobin is a remnant of broken-down red blood cells that is excreted in the urine, making the morning urine in particular reddish-brown. Hence, the condition is called nocturnal haemoglobinuria.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of crovalimab
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of VWS to reimburse crovalimab (Piasky®) from the basic healthcare package. The National Health Care Institute also recommends that the net price of crovalimab should be at least the same as the net price of eculizumab and ravulizumab. The recommendation is to include the medicinal product in List 1A of the GVS. Piasky® is subject to certain additional conditions, the so-called List 2 conditions.
For more information on the GVS and the Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see page ‘Reimbursement of extramural drugs (GVS)’.
Conditions for the reimbursement of crovalimab
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 Minister of VWS asks the National Health Care Institute to make an assessment. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medicinal product from the basic healthcare package.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
Crovalimab is an extramural drug. Extramural means: medicines for home use that can be obtained at the pharmacy with the prescription from a physician. They are only reimbursed from the basic health care package if they are listed in the GVS.