Advice - reimburse ritlecitinib (Litfulo®) for alopecia areata
The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse ritlecitinib (Litfulo®) from the basic health care package. This medicinal product can be used for certain patients with severe alopecia areata. If the minister adopts our advice, ritlecitinib will be included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS). Only then will this medicinal product be reimbursed from the health care insurer's basic health care package.
Ritlecitinib is intended for certain people with severe alopecia areata
Ritlecitinib is the active substance. The brand name is Litfulo®. The product is a capsule.
The medicinal product can be used in patients aged 12 years and older with severe alopecia areata. People with this condition suddenly develop bald spots on the skin where hair grows. These bald spots usually have a round or oval shape. It occurs mainly on the scalp. The marketing authorisation holder has requested reimbursement for the treatment of severe alopecia areata in patients aged 12 years and older. The medicine can only be used in patients who previously received standard treatment, but whose hair has not grown back sufficiently.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of ritlecitinib
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport to reimburse ritlecitinib (Litfulo®) from the basic health care package. The recommendation is to include the medicinal product in List 1A of the GVS. Certain additional conditions, the so-called List 2 conditions, apply for Litfulo®. The National Health Care Institute recommends that ritlecitinib be subject to the same List 2 conditions as baricitinib.
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 ritlecitinib
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 of Health, Welfare and Sport after the assessment. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medicinal product from the basic health care package.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
Ritlecitinib is an outpatient drug. Outpatient 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.