06/02/2026 Blinatumomab for newly diagnosed B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the consolidation phase of chemotherapy
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
- Blinatumomab 35 mcg powder ...
06/02/2026 Blinatumomab for newly diagnosed B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the consolidation phase of chemotherapy
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
- Blinatumomab 35 mcg powder for infusion for treating newly diagnosed patients with CD-19-positive B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the front-line consolidation phase of multiphase chemotherapy with documented complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete haematologic recovery (CRi) after induction therapy for a maximum of four cycles in total.
in view of acceptable clinical effectiveness and safety, and an acceptable pricing proposal by the company.
Funding status
RBlinatumomab 35 mcg powder for infusion is recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indication from 1 April 2026.
Clinical indication, subsidy class and MediShield Life claim limit for blinatumomab are provided in the Annex.
13/09/2024 Review of cancer drugs for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
- Blinatumomab powder for inf...
13/09/2024 Review of cancer drugs for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
- Blinatumomab powder for infusion 35 mcg/vial;
- Dasatinib 20 mg, 50 mg and 70 mg tablets;
- Ponatinib 15 mg tablets; and
- Inotuzumab ozogamicin 1 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion
for treating acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in line with specific clinical criteria.
Subsidy status
RBlinatumomab powder for infusion 35 mcg/vial is recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) with effect from 4 January 2022a for treating patients with B-precursor ALL in first or subsequent complete remission with minimal residual disease (MRD) for:
- up to a maximum of one cycle for induction in a lifetime; and
- up to three additional cycles for consolidation in a lifetime.
RComplete remission is defined as a patient who:
a) has 5% or less bone marrow blasts; and
b) has no evidence of disease; and
c) has a full recovery of peripheral blood counts with platelet count of more than 100,000 per microlitre; and
d) has absolute neutrophil count of more than 1,000 per microlitre.
RDasatinib 20 mg, 50 mg and 70 mg tablets are recommended for inclusion on MAF with effect from 1 September 2022 for treating patients with:
- newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive ALL (Ph+ALL) in combination with chemotherapy; or
- Ph+ALL with resistance or intolerance to prior treatment with imatinib.
RPonatinib 15 mg tablet is recommended for inclusion on MAF with effect from 1 September 2022 for treating patients:
- with Ph+ALL who are resistant to dasatinib;
- who are intolerant to dasatinib and for whom subsequent treatment with imatinib is not clinically appropriate; or
- who have the T315I mutation.
RInotuzumab ozogamicin 1 mg powder for concentrate for solution for infusion is recommended for inclusion on MAF with effect from 1 April 2022 for treating patients with relapsed or refractory CD22 positive B-precursor ALL for:
- up to a maximum of three cycles for induction in a lifetime; and
- up to three additional cycles for consolidation in a lifetime for patients who achieve a complete response after induction.
RPatients with Philadelphia chromosome positive disease must have previously received a tyrosine kinase inhibitor before receiving inotuzumab.
RComplete response is defined as a patient who:
a) has 5% or less bone marrow blasts; and
b) has no evidence of disease; and
c) has platelet count of more than 50,000 per microlitre; and
d) has absolute neutrophil count of more than 500 per microlitre.
Clinical indications, subsidy class and MediShield Life claim limits for all drugs included in the evaluation are provided in the Annex.
arevised clinical indication with effect from 1 Nov 2024.
04/01/2022 Blinatumomab for treating relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
- Blinatumomab powder for in...
04/01/2022 Blinatumomab for treating relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:
- Blinatumomab powder for infusion 35 mcg/vial for treating relapsed or refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (r/r B-ALL) for:
- up to a maximum of two cycles for induction in a lifetime; and
- up to three additional cycles for consolidation in a lifetime in patients who achieve a complete response after induction.
Patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive disease must have previously received a tyrosine kinase inhibitor before receiving blinatumomab.
Patients must not have received blinatumomab previously for the treatment of minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive B-ALL OR patients must have had a relapse-free period of at least six months following completion of treatment with blinatumomab for MRD.
Complete response is defined as a patient who:
- has 5% or less bone marrow blasts; and
- has no evidence of disease; and
- has platelet count of more than 50,000 per microlitre; and
- has absolute neutrophil count of more than 500 per microlitre.
Subsidy status
RBlinatumomab powder for infusion 35mcg/vial is recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indication.