Narcolepsy, armodafinil, June 2019
Page last updated: 1 November 2019
Drug utilisation sub-committee (DUSC)
June 2019
Abstract
Purpose
To compare the predicted and actual utilisation of armodafinil for narcolepsy since it was PBS listed for this indication.
Date of listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Armodafinil for the treatment of narcolepsy was PBS listed on 1 November 2016.
Data Source / methodology
The analysis used data from the Department of Human Services (DHS) supplied prescriptions database.
Key Findings
- The number of patients on therapy for narcolepsy has increased from 2014 to 2018, inclusive.
- There was a 35.9% increase in patients new to narcolepsy therapy from 2017 to 2018.
- The listing of armodafinil has increased the total narcolepsy market, with the number of people starting PBS subsidised armodafinil being higher than the number of patients starting modafinil since its listing.
- The listing of armodafinil has increased the overall government expenditure for PBS-subsidised narcolepsy therapy.
- Dexamfetamine was the most used drug for narcolepsy by prescription volume and number of prevalent patients from 2015-2018, inclusive.
- There was a steep increase in the number of patients starting dexamfetamine for narcolepsy from 178 patients in the second quarter of 2018 to 465 patients in the fourth quarter of 2018.
