Thyrotropin alfa-rch, powder for injection, 1.1 mg, 2 vials (1 kit), Thyrogen®, March 2007
Public summary document for Thyrotropin alfa-rch, powder for injection, 1.1 mg, 2 vials (1 kit), Thyrogen®, March 2007
Page last updated: 29 June 2007
Public Summary Document
Product: Thyrotropin alfa-rch, powder for
injection, 1.1 mg, 2 vials (1 kit), Thyrogen®
Sponsor: Genzyme Australasia Pty Ltd
Date of PBAC Consideration: March 2007
1. Purpose of Application
The sponsor sought a Section 85 Authority required listing for
therapeutic use in preparation for radioiodine ablation of thyroid
remnant tissue.
2. Background
This was the second submission to PBAC. At its July 2006 meeting the PBAC rejected
an application for the preparation of patients for ablation of thyroid tissue on the
basis of an uncertain quality of life improvement and uncertain cost-effectiveness.
The PBAC accepted effectiveness had been demonstrated in the key trial by thyrotropin
alfa-rch meeting the pre-specified non-inferiority criteria in the primary efficacy
outcome for the criterion of “no visible uptake or uptake <0.1% in thyroid bed” and
for the post hoc criterion of serum Tg <2 ng/mL.
Therefore, the PBAC considered that the only differences between thyrotropin alfa-rch
and the comparator would stem from possible quality of life differences. The PBAC
considered it would seem likely that the patients who were intentionally rendered
hypothyroid (through withholding thyroid hormone for a 4-6 week period) would have
had a poorer QoL for those weeks than those who were able to remain euthyroid.
There is a Public Summary Document for the thyrotropin-alfa application to the July 2006 PBAC meeting.
3. Registration Status
Thyrogen® is registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for:
- Use with serum thyroglobulin (Tg) testing, with or without radioactive iodine imaging and undertaken for the detection of thyroid remnants and well-differentiated thyroid cancer in post-thyroidectomy patients maintained on hormone suppression therapy.
- Therapeutic use in post-thyroidectomy patients maintained on hormone suppression therapy in the ablation of thyroid remnant tissue in combination with radioactive iodine.
4. Listing Requested and PBAC’s View
Authority required
For therapeutic use in adult post thyroidectomy patients without
known metastatic disease who are/will be maintained on hormone
suppression therapy, in the ablation of thyroid remnant tissue in
combination with radioactive iodine. PBS-subsidised use is limited
to once per lifetime.
See Recommendation and Reasons for PBAC’s
view.
5. Clinical Place for the Proposed Therapy
Thyrotropin is a source of exogenous thyroid stimulatory hormone
(TSH), which enhances radioiodine uptake while allowing patients to
remain in a euthyroid state and avoids the need for thyroid hormone
withdrawal that would otherwise be required to elevate endogenous
TSH prior to radioiodine ablation.
6. Comparator
The submission nominated a period of hypothyroidism for 4–6
weeks prior to ablation (induced by withholding/withdrawing thyroid
hormone therapy) as the comparator. The PBAC confirmed that the
comparator was appropriate.
7. Clinical Trials
There was one change to the trial data presented in the previous
submission, namely a new analysis of the primary outcome. Details
of the trials submitted follow:
| Trial/First author | Protocol title/Publication title | Publication citation |
| THYR-008-00-00 | A Randomized, Controlled, Open-Label, Multi-National Pilot Study of Thyroid Remnant Ablation Comparing the Safety and Ablation Rate Following 131I Administration Using Thyrogen versus the Safety and Ablation Rate Following 131I Administration in the Hypothyroid State – Final Report | |
| Pacini et al (2006) | Radioiodine ablation of thyroid remnants after preparation with recombinant human thyrotropin in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: results of an international, randomized, controlled study. | J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2006; 91(3):926-32. |
| Hanscheid et al (2006) | Iodine biokinetics and dosimetry in radioiodine therapy of thyroid cancer: procedures and results of a prospective international controlled study of ablation after rhTSH or hormone withdrawal. | Journal of Nuclear Medicine: official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine 2006; 47:648-54. |
8. Results of Trials
The results of previous trials have been reported in the July 2006
Public Summary Document (PSD).
The re-submission represented the per protocol analyses of: thyroid
remnant ablation at Month 8 follow-up (primary efficacy outcome);
and the number of patients with serum Tg levels <2ng/mL or
<1ng/mL at Month 8 as presented previously.
The re-submission represented the secondary outcome, quality of
life (QoL) as measured by the SF-36 survey of general health status
and the utility values calculated from these QoL data using the
SF-6D method of Brazier et al (1998). All statistical analysis was
post hoc.
There were statistically significant differences in the mean change
from baseline in Week 4 SF-36 scores for five of the eight SF-36
domains, favouring thyrotropin alfa – rch + thyroid hormone
therapy.
9. Clinical Claim
The submission described thyrotropin alfa – rch + thyroid
hormone therapy as (1) being significantly more effective
(comprising equivalent efficacy with respect to ablation success,
but greater effectiveness with respect to ability to maintain
euthyroid status and QoL) than the main comparator, and (2) having
similar or less toxicity (comprising less retention of radiation
and comparable other adverse events).
See Recommendation and Reasons for PBAC’s
views.
10. Economic Analysis
An updated preliminary economic evaluation was presented.
The submission calculated a trial-based incremental cost/extra QALY
gained value of $75,000 - $105,000.
An updated modelled economic evaluation was also presented.
In the pre-PBAC response the sponsor presented a revised base case
incremental cost effectiveness ratio of between $15,000 - $45,000
per extra QALY gained.
11. Estimated PBS Usage and Financial Implications
The submission estimated that the likely number of patients/ year
(accounting for market share as necessary) would be < 10,000 by
2011 (in Year 5).
The financial cost/year to the PBS (excluding co-payments) minus
any savings in use of other drugs was estimated to be < $10
million in 2011 (Year 5).
12. Recommendation and Reasons
The PBAC recommended listing to prepare for radioiodine ablation on
the basis of acceptable cost-effectiveness compared to withdrawing
thyroid hormone therapy and thus inducing a longer period of
hypothyroidism of 4-6 weeks prior to ablation.
The PBAC had previously (July 2006 PBAC meeting) considered that
effectiveness had been demonstrated in the key trial, by
thyrotropin alfa meeting the pre-specified non-inferiority criteria
in the primary efficacy outcome, and considered that the only
differences between thyrotropin alfa and the comparator would stem
from possible quality of life (QoL) differences in the pre-ablation
period.
The PBAC noted the re-submission represented QoL as measured by the
SF-36 survey of general health status and utility values using the
SF-6D method of Brazier et al. The SF 36 results showed there were
statistically significant changes from baseline in Week 4 SF-36
scores for five of the eight SF-36 domains favouring thyrotropin
alfa + thyroid hormone therapy. The PBAC noted that SF-36 values
were derived using the 4-week recall version (rather than the
1-week recall version). However, there was some concern that
patients were unblinded, and that the Week 4 values may
overestimate the average utility impact over the 4-week period,
noting that the physiological changes take some time to develop and
thus to manifest symptomatically. Nevertheless, the PBAC also noted
the pre-PBAC Response provided the results of a treatment survey
advising that the time between surgery and ablation is actually 6
weeks or longer in more than 62% of patients, not 10% as used in
the submission. On the basis of this survey, the revised base case
ICER was reduced, though still between $15,000 - $45,000 per extra
QALY gained.
The PBAC considered that while there was also uncertainty around
the time points post-surgery when QoL was affected due to
withdrawal of thyroid hormone therapy, it appeared the four weeks
preceding ablation were the most relevant.
The PBAC accepted there was an advantage in the weighted average
time to discharge of 1.56 days for patients given thyrotropin alfa
+ thyroid hormone therapy versus 2.04 days for patients withheld
from thyroid hormone therapy, which would be realisable under
current hospital discharge practices.
Therefore, while taking into account uncertainties associated with
QoL, the PBAC concluded the incremental cost per extra QALY gained,
while uncertain, was acceptable.
Recommendation
THYROTROPIN ALFA-rch, powder for injection, 1.1 mg, 2 vials (1
kit)
Restriction: Authority required
Ablation of thyroid remnant tissue, in combination with radioactive
iodine, in a post thyroidectomy adult aged 18 years of older
without known metastatic disease. This drug is only PBS-subsidised
for one treatment in a patient’s lifetime.
Maximum Quantity: 1 (equivalent to 2 vials)
Repeats: nil
13. Context for Decision
The PBAC helps decide whether and, if so, how medicines should be
subsidised in Australia. It considers submissions in this context.
A PBAC decision not to recommend listing or not to recommend
changing a listing does not represent a final PBAC view about the
merits of the medicine. A company can resubmit to the PBAC or seek
independent review of the PBAC decision.
14. Sponsor’s Comment
Genzyme Australasia welcomes the recommendation by the PBAC to list
thyrotropin alfa-rch on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.
