Analysis of venetoclax for first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma, September 2023
Page last updated: 22 March 2024
Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)
September 2023
Abstract
Purpose
To compare the predicted and actual utilisation of venetoclax for first-line treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) since its listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and how the listing effected the second-line treatments for CLL and SLL.
Date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumab was listed for first-line treatment for CLL or SLL on 1 December 2020.
Data Source / methodology
Data extracted from the PBS database maintained by Department of Health and Aged Care, processed by Services Australia were used for the analyses.
Key Findings
- The actual uptake of venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumab for first-line treatment of CLL/SLL was different over the first two years of listing than predicted.
- The actual substitution rate of chlorambucil in combination with obinutuzumab for venetoclax in first-line therapy is different than predicted over the first two years of listing.
- The overall use of second-line therapies for CLL/SLL appears to have remained stable since the listing of venetoclax for first-line therapy. However, there appears to be a shift away from the use of ibrutinib towards venetoclax (as either monotherapy or in combination with rituximab) and to a lesser extent acalabrutinib for second-line therapy.
- The median time on treatment including breaks in supply was estimated to be 360 days and excluding breaks was estimated to be 315 days.
Full Report
