MS-CONNECTED , FORUM DECISION – Norwegian patients with multiple sclerosis despair: – Politicians must now wake up

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Sweden has approved a new drug against MS. "Unacceptable that we would not get," MS said.

12,000 Norwegians have multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the central nervous system.

Every year, more than 500 people between the ages of 20 and 40 have MS. For those who are most affected (PPMS group), there is no approved drug in Norway.

Sweden said yes

The decision forum recently said no to the drug Okrelizumab (Ocrevus).

"We are experiencing this situation as a desperate situation," said Gudrun Sofie Østhassel, communications officer, associated with Nettavisen.

In Sweden, the same drug was given the green light on Wednesday.

– We do not give up! Our politicians must now wake up because it is unacceptable that people affected by the most aggressive form of MS do not receive approved medication. We can not do that, says Østhassel.

– too expensive

The decision of the forums led by Stig Slørdahl justified the rejection of this type to Dagens Medisin:

"We say no to okrelizumab on the basis of the total cost that would entail for the specialized health service, it is about 200 million additional costs."

The MS connection stands out for the calculation:

"It is obvious that the drug is rejected because of the money, I can not understand that our patients should be a job of salvation," she thundered – adding that:

– The decision forum justifies the refusal that it will cost 200 million more. We do not understand calculus, it's far from what is really. After mental illness, MS is the disease that most often causes disability in young adults in Norway. It is therefore very expensive for society to leave the group without treatment.

Østhassel says he understands that hospitals must reduce their expenses, but not in this way.

Decision Forum says no to Okrelizumab (Ocrevus) for the sickest MS patient. According to MS, it is the first anti-brakes medication that can help people with PPSD.

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Requires approved medication

The anticancer drug Rituksimab is not approved for MS, but is used by approximately 1,000 untreated Norwegian patients.

"A bit of the challenge is that we have no evidence of a different effect than okrelizumab and rituximab, so we commissioned a full evaluation of the method at the Norwegian Institute of Health. should be completed in March 2019, "according to Slørdahl.

"Ocrevus is an approved drug, and we believe that approved drugs must be the first choice," said Østhassel.

– How many patients need this medicine?

"People with" primary progressive MS "account for about ten percent of the group and this drug is administered at an early stage.The case resumes in Norway in the spring and need to turn the tide. There is no other option: Rituksimab is not a real option because it is not offered to MS patients across the country.

Comes with a new price offer

Rajji Mehdwan, managing director of Roche Norway, is surprised:

"More than 70,000 patients worldwide have received Ocrevus and the results are good.The Norwegian Medicines Agency had already concluded in May that Ocrevus was the most likely to be profitable and recommended to use this treatment. Although the decision forum decided to offer the drug to Norwegian patients with multiple sclerosis, "Mehdwan told Nettavisen.

She says that they are willing to cut costs:

"We at Roche will look for a solution and offer a new and better price offer this week, and we hope that the decision-making forum will give patients a quick clarification so that Norwegian patients with PPSD can also have a merry Christmas.