P138 Inequity in Clinical Commissioning Group funding across England for high-cost biologic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Abstract Background/Aims Biologic, and targeted, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs/tDMARDs) are recommended for patients in England with high disease activity score rheumatoid arthritis (HDAS-RA) who do not respond to two or more conventional synthetic DMARDs. To prescribe bDMARDs/tDMARDs in England, prescribers must apply for funding via their local clinical commissioning group (CCG). The project aim was to review whether CCGs across England had defined high cost drugs pathways for bDMARDs/tDMARDs use in HDAS-RA and if so, what this pathway looked like regarding drug choice, order of availability, and ability to prescribe as monotherapy. Methods We submitted a freedom of information (FOI) request in October 2021 to all CCGs within England to obtain their high cost drug pathway for bDMARDs/tDMARDs use in HDAS-RA. We then manually reviewed the pathways to determine whether the CCG specified an order of drug prescribing. Data was also gathered on whether CCGs allowed abatacept (ABT), rituximab (RTX), and golimumab (GOL) to be prescribed as monotherapy. Results All 107 CCGs in England responded to the FOI request. 69 out of 107 CCGs (65%) had a pathway for bDMARDs/tDMARDs prescribing. 60 out of 69 CCGs (87%) specified an order for drug prescribing in RA. Within their pathways, CCGs generally fell into 3 prescribing preferences. Table 1 summarises these pathway recommendations. 39 (57%), 59 (86%), and 6 (9%) CCGs allowed ABT/RTX/GOL to be prescribed as monotherapy respectively. RTX monotherapy was specifically allowed outside of special indications such as cancer, interstitial lung disease and multiple sclerosis. Conclusion These findings show there is significant variation across England regarding which bDMARDs/tDMARDs patients can receive for HDAS-RA resulting in a postcode lottery. Several studies support the use of ABT/RTX/GOL as monotherapy and registry data shows that 30-40% of RA patients are administered ABT/RTX/GOL as monotherapy for methotrexate intolerance/contraindication. Lack of NICE appraisal, however, means some CCGs mandate individual funding requests for monotherapy prescribing. We would like to use these results to help negotiate equitable access to bDMARDs/tDMARDs nationwide. Disclosure O. Buckeldee: None. R. Khanna: None. L. Snell: None. L. Attipoe: None.