Author Of 2 Presentations
P1015 - Demonstrating the value of a patient support program for multiple sclerosis patients prescribed cladribine tablets in Ireland at the end of year 1 (ID 1358)
Abstract
Background
The Merck KGaA-sponsored, nurse/pharmacy-led patient support program (PSP), namely adveva®, supports patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in taking cladribine tablets (CT) as prescribed. adveva® provides support on treatment days together with dose interpretation advice, clinical appointment reminders, and a home-based phlebotomy service. All potential adverse events are reported to Merck KGaA and telephone conversation transcripts are assessed when additional support has been required.
Objectives
To analyze results of the adveva® PSP for patients with highly active RRMS in Ireland taking CT as prescribed at the end of year 1.
Methods
Aggregated telephone records were reviewed between Oct 2018 and Sept 2019 to determine whether patient-reported adherence of CT was achieved and if additional support was required to achieve the full first year CT cumulative dose of 1.75 mg/kg.
Results
Of 204 patients registered with adveva®, 186 patients self-reported to have completed both treatment weeks (18 patients were between treatment weeks so were not included). Of 186, 177 (95%) patients completed their first-year course as prescribed, whereas 9 (5%) completed outside of SmPC recommendations as treatment was not taken on consecutive days. Additional support was required by 45 (24%) patients during their treatment days, including treatment counselling (38%), dosing advice (46%), and liaising on adverse events (16%).
Conclusions
All 186 patients self-reported that they achieved the required cumulative 1.75 mg/kg dose of cladribine tablets in their first year of treatment. The support of a proactive telephone-based PSP was especially of value to the 24% of patients who required additional support. The combination of both nurses and pharmacists within a PSP offers a trusted environment in which medication errors can be reduced, patient safety improved, and patients in need of additional support can be more easily prioritized, while reducing costs and improving quality of care. 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.
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.
Presenter Of 2 Presentations
P1015 - Demonstrating the value of a patient support program for multiple sclerosis patients prescribed cladribine tablets in Ireland at the end of year 1 (ID 1358)
Abstract
Background
The Merck KGaA-sponsored, nurse/pharmacy-led patient support program (PSP), namely adveva®, supports patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in taking cladribine tablets (CT) as prescribed. adveva® provides support on treatment days together with dose interpretation advice, clinical appointment reminders, and a home-based phlebotomy service. All potential adverse events are reported to Merck KGaA and telephone conversation transcripts are assessed when additional support has been required.
Objectives
To analyze results of the adveva® PSP for patients with highly active RRMS in Ireland taking CT as prescribed at the end of year 1.
Methods
Aggregated telephone records were reviewed between Oct 2018 and Sept 2019 to determine whether patient-reported adherence of CT was achieved and if additional support was required to achieve the full first year CT cumulative dose of 1.75 mg/kg.
Results
Of 204 patients registered with adveva®, 186 patients self-reported to have completed both treatment weeks (18 patients were between treatment weeks so were not included). Of 186, 177 (95%) patients completed their first-year course as prescribed, whereas 9 (5%) completed outside of SmPC recommendations as treatment was not taken on consecutive days. Additional support was required by 45 (24%) patients during their treatment days, including treatment counselling (38%), dosing advice (46%), and liaising on adverse events (16%).
Conclusions
All 186 patients self-reported that they achieved the required cumulative 1.75 mg/kg dose of cladribine tablets in their first year of treatment. The support of a proactive telephone-based PSP was especially of value to the 24% of patients who required additional support. The combination of both nurses and pharmacists within a PSP offers a trusted environment in which medication errors can be reduced, patient safety improved, and patients in need of additional support can be more easily prioritized, while reducing costs and improving quality of care. 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.
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.