Author Of 1 Presentation
P1069 - Value-added benefits of a nurse/pharmacy-led service for patients with multiple sclerosis treated over 2 years with cladribine tablets in the UK (ID 1349)
Abstract
Background
Cladribine tablets (CT) are taken as 2 courses in years 1 and 2 and show durable efficacy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Merck KGaA provides a free patient support program (PSP), called adveva®, which has an educational web-based platform with a nurse/pharmacy-led team. The PSP supports patients with RRMS in taking CT as prescribed.
Objectives
To present year 1 and 2 results of a PSP for patients taking CT for RRMS in the UK, including patient self-reported adherence, patients returning for year 2 treatment and the value-added benefits of adveva®.
Methods
Aggregated and anonymized telephone conversation records were reviewed between Dec 2017 and Oct 2019 to determine whether patient-reported adherence was achieved and if additional support was required to achieve the recommended cumulative dose of CT 3.5 mg/kg over 2 years. Also analyzed was the return of patients for year 2 treatment with CT.
Results
Within the timeframe, 147 patients returned for year 2 by 31 Oct 2019, of which 139 self-reported confirmation of both treatment weeks in years 1 & 2. Eight patients were not included as they did not complete their 2nd week of year 2 treatment by 30 Nov 2019. Of the 139 patients, SmPC guidelines for treatment completion in years 1 and 2 were adhered to by 137 (99%) patients and additional support was required by 59 (42%) patients during treatment days in both years. Discussion topics for these patients included treatment counselling (16%), dosing advice (49%), and liaising on adverse events (35%). Of the 147 patients, 130 (88%) returned in optimal treatment time for year 2 treatment, and 17 (12%) returned within an average of 45 days of the allowed timeframe. Patients delayed due to suboptimal lymphocytes (n=13), and for logistical (n=3) and clinical (n=1) reasons.
Conclusions
All 139 (100%) patients who self-reported adherence had administered CT as prescribed. The support of a proactive telephone-based PSP was used by 42% of patients who required additional support. Of all patients, 88% completed treatment within the optimal timeframe. These post-approval, real-world setting data from the first year of treatment suggest that the majority of patients find cladribine tablets simple-to-take. The PSP is useful in more evenly distributing the workload of clinical MS teams associated with disease-modifying therapy monitoring, allowing clinicians to dedicate more time to symptom and relapse management.