A comparison of mycophenolate use in Australia and Northern Europe, and the impact on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme

Staatz, Christine E., Smith, Alesha J. and Tett, Susan E. (2009) A comparison of mycophenolate use in Australia and Northern Europe, and the impact on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety, 18 5: 386-392.


Author Staatz, Christine E.
Smith, Alesha J.
Tett, Susan E.
Title A comparison of mycophenolate use in Australia and Northern Europe, and the impact on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme
Journal name Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2009-05
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1002/pds.1726
Volume number 18
Issue number 5
ISSN 1053-8569
Start page 386
End page 392
Total pages 7
Editor R. D. Mann
Place of publication Chichester, England
Publisher John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Collection year 2010
Language eng
Subject C1
111502 Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
920299 Health and Support Services not elsewhere classified
Formatted abstract Purpose
The aim of this study was to characterise utilisation of mycophenolate in Australian transplant recipients from 2001 to 2007; to identify specific patterns of mycophenolate mofetil and enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium usage; to examine expenditure on mycophenolate prescription and to compare Australian usage with Danish, Finish and Netherlands populations.

Methods
Data on mycophenolate usage were obtained from Medicare Australia, Finish and Danish Medicines Agency and Netherlands Healthcare Insurance Board databases. Utilisation of mycophenolate was described as daily defined dose (DDD/per 1000 population/day).

Results
From 2001 to 2007, utilisation of mycophenolate in Australia increased approximately 30-fold. In 2007, mycophenolate sodium accounted for 8.3% of mycophenolate total DDDs. In 2007, AUD$4 890 000 was spent on mycophenolate prescription. In 2006, utilisation of mycophenolate was five- to eight-fold higher in Northern Europe compared to Australia. Renal transplant rates per 1000 population/year were similar across countries.

Conclusions
Differences in the rate of mycophenolate utilisation between Northern Europe and Australia exist and may be due to differences in approved indications between countries, prescribing habits, or because of a more mature market in Europe. If the Australian market increases to that of North Europe the cost of prescribing mycophenolate will eventually be in the vicinity of AUD$20-80 million. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Keyword mycophenolate mofetil
Northern Europe
Australia
Drug Utilisation
mycophenolate sodium
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Additional Notes Published Online: 2 Mar 2009

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: 2010 Higher Education Research Data Collection
School of Pharmacy Publications
 
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