← The record

IbrutinibIMBRUVICA

Noted HaematologyAuthority RequiredFirst-line line 💬 consumer voice

Previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), in combination with venetoclax, for patients suitable for fludarabine-based chemoimmunotherapy.

12
Submissions
10 resub
2015–24
On the record
$45k–105k
ICER range
4 sourced ICERs · 2015–2018
Cost-min
Cost basis

Decisions on record

20 decisions
  • Meeting Jul 2024 Noted Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma with 17p deletion no PSD
  • Meeting Mar 2024 Recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
  • Meeting Mar 2023 Noted Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/Small lymphocytic leukaemia (SLL) no PSD
  • Meeting Dec 2022 Not recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), in combination with venetoclax, for treatment of previously untreated disease
  • Meeting Nov 2022 Noted Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma no PSD
  • Meeting Nov 2022 Noted Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma no PSD
  • Meeting Dec 2021 Noted Indication not stated no PSD
  • Meeting Nov 2021 Noted Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) no PSD
12 earlier decisions
  • Nov 2020 Recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL); small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL); mantle cell lymphoma
  • Nov 2019 Recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
  • Mar 2018 Recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) and relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
  • Nov 2017 Not recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
  • Nov 2017 Not recommended Indicated for the treatment of: •patients with mantle cell lymphoma who have received at least one prior therapy. •adult patients with CLL/SLL who have received at least one prior therapy or adult patients with previously untreated CLL/SLL •Patients with CLL/SLL with deletion 17p; and •adult patient
  • Mar 2017 Recommended Relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Relapsed or refractory small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). no PSD
  • Nov 2016 Not recommended Relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma
  • Nov 2016 Not recommended Ibrutinib is indicated for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) in patients who have received at least one prior therapy, or as first line in CLL patients with 17p deletion; and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in patients who have received
  • Aug 2016 Not recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma no PSD
  • Mar 2016 Deferred Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma
  • Nov 2015 Deferred Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma
  • Jul 2015 Not recommended Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)

Access path

12 submissions · public record
  1. TGA registered · IMBRUVICA

    TGA label narrower than the PBS population

  2. Jul 2015
    Not recommended

    vs rituximab plus chlorambucil

  3. Nov 2015
    Deferred

    Comparator changed: rituximab plus chlorambucil → rituximab + chlorambucil

  4. Mar 2016
    Deferred

    Comparator changed: rituximab + chlorambucil → chlorambucil plus rituximab (ofatumumab…

  5. Nov 2016
    Recommended

    Comparator changed: chlorambucil plus rituximab (ofatumumab monotherapy also used in…

  6. Nov 2016
    Not recommended

    Comparator changed: chlorambucil plus rituximab (ofatumumab monotherapy also used in…

  7. Nov 2017
    Not recommended

    Ibrutinib superiority to obinutuzumab+chlorambucil not sufficiently demonstrated (based on indirect comparisons rather…

  8. ↻ resubmitted
    Nov 2017
    Recommended · restricted

    Comparator changed: R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine…

  9. Mar 2018
    Recommended · restricted

    Comparator changed: R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine…

  10. Nov 2019
    Recommended · restricted

    Comparator changed: rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone…

  11. Nov 2020
    Recommended

    Comparator changed: obinutuzumab + chlorambucil → ibrutinib 140 mg capsules

  12. Dec 2022
    Not recommended

    Comparator changed: ibrutinib 140 mg capsules → fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and…

  13. ↻ resubmitted
    Mar 2024
    Recommended

    Comparator changed: fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) → venetoclax +…

  14. PBS listing · Authority Required
RecommendedDeferredNot recommended

From the public summary

Verbatim · PSD text · may span indications
PBAC outcome
7.1 The PBAC recommended extending the listing of ibrutinib, to include use in combination with venetoclax (IBR+VEN), for the treatment of patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).PSD · Mar 2024
The PBAC’s recommendation for listing was based on its assessment that the cost- effectiveness of IBR+VEN would be acceptable if it were cost-minimised against venetoclax in combination with obinutuzumab (VEN+OBI). In making its recommendation, the PBAC also considered the clinical need and the equity of access advantages associated with an all-oral therapy.PSD · Mar 2024
Economic analysis
The PBAC considered that the cost-effectiveness of The nominated main comparator in the resubmission was ibrutinib + venetoclax was unable to be reliably assessed venetoclax + obinutuzumab. The clinical claim of noninferior due to the uncertain magnitude of benefit, which relied on efficacy underpinning the cost-minimisation was based on the immature data from the CAPTIVATE study, and an results of a Bucher method indirect comparison and an unanchored, …PSD · Mar 2024
The PBAC considered a cost comparison of ibrutinib + The resubmission presented a cost-minimisation approach venetoclax and venetoclax + obinutuzumab would be comparing treatment with fixed duration ibrutinib + venetoclax informative in any resubmission (para 7.10). to fixed duration venetoclax + obinutuzumab.PSD · Mar 2024
Clinical claim
• Ibrutinib + venetoclax is superior to FCR in terms of efficacy and at least non-inferior in terms of safety, with a different safety profile compared to FCR, and a reduced risk of developing secondary primary malignancies.PSD · Mar 2024
Source: Table 1.1 of the resubmission; Table 1, p1 of the ibrutinib Public Summary Document, December 2022 intracycle PBAC meeting.PSD · Mar 2024
Consumer comments
6.2 The PBAC noted and welcomed the input from individuals (16), health care professionals (1 group of clinicians) and from the 2 organisations, Lymphoma Australia, and the Leukaemia Foundation, via the Consumer Comments facility on the PBS website. The comments described a range of benefits of treatment with ibrutinib including improvements in disease progression, white blood cell counts, and energy levels.PSD · Dec 2022
6.3 The PBAC recalled that a clinician consultation was held on 1 December 2022 to discuss the treatment of CLL /SLL in relation to the existing PBS treatment algorithm and the new drug regimens proposed for PBS-listing in the context of the evolving treatment landscape. The key points were:PSD · Dec 2022

Cost-effectiveness

4 sourced ICERs · 2015–2018

Cost-minimisation analysis performed; no ICER calculated by design.

The submission considered the listing of ibrutinib tablets would be cost neutral to the PBS as ibrutinib tablets are expected to substitute for ibrutinib capsules. PSD · 2020
ICER uncertain ×6ICER / price too high ×3Economic model disputed ×3Price cut / RSA neededImmature survival dataCost-effectiveness accepted

Decision context

PopulationAdults with previously untreated CLL/SLL who would otherwise be considered fit for treatment with fludarabine-based chemoimmunotherapy; receiving fixed duration ibrutinib (420 mg daily for 3 cycles lead-in, then continued with venetoclax for 12 further cycles) in combination with venetoclax.

Submission history

12 entries
DecidedOutcomeComparatorICEREvidence
Mar 2024 Recommended venetoclax + obinutuzumab RCT · PFS
Dec 2022 Not recommended fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) RCT · PFS
Nov 2020 Recommended ibrutinib 140 mg capsules RCT · Bioequivalence
Nov 2019 Recommended · restricted obinutuzumab + chlorambucil RCT · PFS
Mar 2018 Recommended · restricted rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP) $45k–75k RCT · OS
Nov 2017 Not recommended obinutuzumab+chlorambucil (and rituximab+chlorambucil as secondary comparison) $75k–105k RCT · PFS
Nov 2017 Recommended · restricted R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) RCT · PFS
Nov 2016 Recommended rituximab plus chlorambucil RCT · OS
Nov 2016 Not recommended R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) RCT · PFS
Mar 2016 Deferred chlorambucil plus rituximab (ofatumumab monotherapy also used in trial) $45k–75k RCT · OS
Nov 2015 Deferred rituximab + chlorambucil $45k–75k RCT · PFS
Jul 2015 Not recommended rituximab plus chlorambucil RCT · PFS

Codependent tests

MSAC
ServiceBiomarkerMSAC outcomeYear
Genome-wide microarray testing for multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia del(17p) and other chromosomal abnormalities supported 2019
17p deletion testing by FISH for CLL/SLL 17p deletion (del(17p)) supported 2019
17p deletion testing (FISH) for CLL/SLL 17p deletion (del(17p)) supported 2020

Consumer voice

Mar 2024

Consumer input from 64 individuals, 6 health professionals, and 3 organisations described benefits of ibrutinib + venetoclax including improved quality of life, reduced fatigue, ability to work, improved mental health, and potential for complete disease remission. Health professionals noted potential safety concerns (immunosuppression, AF, bleeding) while patients reported minimal side effects; mo

improved quality of life due to reduced fatigue, an ability to work and improved mental health Consumer comments · PSD
quality of lifetreatment burdenaccess barriersside effectsunmet needimproved mental health

Similar precedents

By decision profile

Regulatory · TGA

Label narrower than PBS population — PBAC restricts to patients suitable for fludarabine-based chemoimmunotherapy and mandates fixed-duration ibrutinib-venetoclax combination, versus TGA's broader monotherapy or multiple combination options.