The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse elranatamab (Elrexfio®) and talquetamab (Talvey®) from the basic healthcare package. These medicinal products can be used in certain patients with multiple myeloma. The reason for this advice was the placement of the medicinal product in the so-called ‘lock procedure for expensive medicinal products’.
Current state of affairs: advisory report sent to the Minister
The National Health Care Institute has sent this advice to the Minister of VWS. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medicinal product from the basic healthcare package.
Elranatamab and talquetamab are intended for certain people with multiple myeloma
Elranatamab and talquetamab are the active substances. The brand names are Elrexfio® and Talvey®. Both medicinal products are injections.
The product can be used for people with multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma, also known as Kahler's disease, is a plasma cell cancer. Plasma cells are a type of immune cells of the human body. Myeloma cells is another word for malignant plasma cells. In multiple myeloma, uncontrolled cell division of malignant plasma cells occurs at multiple sites in the bone marrow. Treatment is specific to adult patients with:
- recurring and refractory multiple myeloma;
- who have received at least three prior treatments, including an immunomodulating agent, a proteasome inhibitor and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody; and
- who showed disease progression during the last treatment.
Advice of the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of elranatamab and talquetamab
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of VWS to:
- reimburse elranatamab (Elrexfio®) from the basic healthcare package. Inclusion of the medicinal product in the basic healthcare package should not result in additional costs compared to standard treatment.
- reimburse talquetamab (Talvey®) from the basic healthcare package. Inclusion of the medicinal product in the basic healthcare package should not result in additional costs compared to standard 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 Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) advises the National Health Care Institute when issuing a package advice. The final decision for reimbursement from the basic healthcare package is up to the Minister.
Explanation of the package lock procedure for expensive medicinal products
The minister has placed elranatamab and talquetamab 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 healthcare 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 marketing authorisation holder.
For more information, see the page ‘Lock procedure for expensive medicinal products’.