Advice - do not reimburse loncastuximab tesirine (Zynlonta®) for the treatment of lymphoma
The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister for Medical Care to not reimburse loncastuximab tesirine (Zynlonta®) from the basic health care package. This medicinal product can be used in certain patients with lymphoma. The reason for this advice was the placing of the medicinal product in the so-called ‘lock procedure for expensive medicinal products'. It has not been demonstrated that this medicinal product has an added value for this patient group.
Loncastuximab tesirine is intended for certain people with lymphoma
Loncastuximab tesirine is the active substance. The brand name is Zynlonta®. The medicinal product is administered intravenously in the hospital.
This medicinal product can be used in patients with an aggressive form of lymphoma. This form is called relapsed or refractory diffuse large cell B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). This is a type of lymphoma that is part of the group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Relapsed means that the cancer has come back, after first having disappeared partially or completely. Refractory means that the tumour did not respond to earlier treatment. These are adult patients with R/R DLBCL who have previously received at least 2 systemic therapies. Systemic therapy works on the whole body.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of loncastuximab tesirine
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister for Medical Care to not reimburse loncastuximab tesirine (Zynlonta®) from the basic health care package, as the medicinal product does not meet the ‘established medical science and medical practice’
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 advises the National Health Care Institute about the assessment. 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 loncastuximab tesirine 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’.