Advice - do not reimburse olaparib (Lynparza®) in combination with abiraterone for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer
The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to not reimburse olaparib (Lynparza®) from the basic health care package. This medicinal product can be used in combination with abiraterone in certain patients with metastatic prostate cancer. 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 patients.
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 health care package.
Olaparib is intended for certain people with metastatic prostate cancer
Olaparib is the active substance. The brand name is Lynparza®. The medicinal product is a tablet.
The medicinal product in combination with abiraterone can be used for people with metastatic prostate cancer. Prostate cancer occurs as a result of uninhibited cell division in the glandular ducts of the prostate. In metastatic prostate cancer, the cancer has metastasised to the lymph nodes or other organs, such as the bones or abdomen. At that stage, the disease is incurable. The medicinal product is a tablet that is ingested. Olaparib blocks a specific protein, preventing damaged tumour cells from repairing themselves and causing them to die. Abiraterone inhibits the production of the hormone testosterone, which causes the cancer to grow less or not at all. The combination of olaparib and abiraterone ensures that the cancer is tackled in different ways. The combination with abiraterone requires simultaneous treatment with prednisone or prednisolone.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of olaparib
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to not reimburse olaparib (Lynparza®) in combination with abiraterone from the basic health care package. It has not been demonstrated that this medicinal product has an added value for patients.
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 medicine, the insurance excess or whether you need to pay a personal 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 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 liso-cel 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’.