Over-Prescription Of Fingolimod In Germany.

Drug ATC-Code Fingolimod L04AA27 Glatiramer acetate L03AX13 Alemtuzumab L04AA34 Natalizumab L04AA23 Interferon beta-1a L03AB07 Interferon beta-1b L03AB08 Peginterferon beta-1a L03AB13 Teriflunomide L04AA31 Dimethyl fumarate N07XX09 Azathioprine L04AX01 Fingolimod is an orally available immune-modulatory drug for treating relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). It was approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in March 2011. Some urgent safety warnings (e.g. progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) and cardiovascular events) have been reported in the meantime. Early benefit assessment by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) in 2012 and 2013 showed additional benefit only for a certain subgroup of patients. Therefore the use of Fingolimod has widely been discussed in Germany. We analyzed prescriptions of Fingolimod and the impact of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and drug safety warnings. OBJECTIVES