« The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) have recently been updated to include ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft, marketed as BESREMi®, as a preferred first-line cytoreductive therapy option for the treatment of adults with symptomatic, low-risk polycythemia vera (PV). Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft is the only preferred therapeutic option for both high-risk and low-risk (symptomatic) PV regardless of treatment history.1
“The recent update to the NCCN Guidelines® reflects the ongoing shift in PV care towards earlier intervention, focusing on long-term patient health,” said Rami Komrokji, M.D., Vice Chair of the Malignant Hematology Department and Head of the Leukemia and MDS Section at Moffitt Cancer Center. »
Hopefully, the clinical trial for Besremi for ET will be successful. Given how expensive it is, there are virtually no insurance companies that would authorize off-label use. It is much easier to get off-label use of Pegasys approved for ET given the history of PEG use and the fact that it is much cheaper than Besremi (but still expensive). I am sure that the MPN Specialist community will be happy to be able to use besremi for Et when it is possible to do so.
Pharma& is applying for extending Pegasys' applicable indications to ET and PV in Europe. If they do the same in the US, there might be another option for the patients. Looking forward to that development.
hopefully insurance approves this. My doctor won’t subscribe this because insurance does not want to approve. They never had luck getting approved with other patients
Note that my insurance did not want to cover Besremi when it first came out. It was not on the formulary yet. My doctor could not get it approved, despite an appeal. Many people do not know that the appeal that the doctor files is just the beginning of the process. The patient has the right to file their own appeal. These appeals are handled through a different process. I did my research and filed my own appeal. I prevailed and got the Besremi approved.
NO does not always mean NO in the insurance world. It means that you have to work harder to get the approval. While we do not always prevail, I have succeeded two times for medication authorizations that my doctors could not get approved. Pharmacy Benefit Management companies count on people not understanding their rights and giving up. It pays to be educated about your rights and how the appeals process works.
It will help that Besremi is now in the NCCN guidelines. This should get it onto more formularies. My approvals for Besremi no longer require my intervention now that it is on the formulary. My doctor can get it approved with the normal level of hassles for an expensive drug.
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Ropeg versus HU/BAT results after 3 years
Email to the CEO of the MHRA - please also email this lady
