Update: Siponimod (Mayzent) for Secondary Progressive MS

November 16, 2022 | Advocacy, Funding, Treatments

At the August 2022 meeting of PHARMAC’s Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC), Multiple Sclerosis NZ (MSNZ) made a submission in support of the funding of Siponimod (Mayzent) for Secondary Progressive MS.

At this meeting PTAC recommended listing with low priority and have requested further advice from the Neurological Advisory Committee regarding appropriate Special Authority criteria.

PTAC’s recommendation noted specifically the consideration of the:

• Severe unmet health need and the impact on ‘health-related quality of life for those with SPMS and their family/whanau, noting that there are currently no funded treatments for SPMS.
• The good quality, poor strength evidence that demonstrated the health benefit of Siponimod in the treatment of SPMS.

MSNZ is pleased that there is supporting evidence for the use of Siponimod for those with SPMS and recognition of the severe unmet health need. However, there is still substantial work to be done to progress the recommendation higher up the priority list. We will endeavour to provide updates as these become available.

Additionally, we would like to thank the 50 individuals who provided substantive, personal and impactful feedback to our survey. The responses were hugely valuable in assisted with the focus and direction of the submission. The feedback received highlighted the value of first-hand accounts and engagement with impacted communities in addressing inequities faced in the system. Pharmac have also since commented to us that:

“We found the MSNZ submission incredibly valuable. Having the voice of those with SPMS included and the real life experiences was both moving and important for us to receive to consider in the assessment of siponimod. Thank you again for providing this to us.”

Once again, thank you for sharing your personal and in many cases heart-breaking experiences. The feedback is continuing to be used by MSNZ in reviewing our advocacy priorities as it highlighted multiple areas of need within the MS community.

The minutes have recently been published here: 2022-08-combined-PTAC-meeting-record.pdf (pharmac.govt.nz) (Item 8, P16-22)

Read our submission here: Addressing the unmet need | Multiple Sclerosis Society of NZMultiple Sclerosis Society of NZ (msnz.org.nz)

Photo by Kateryna Hliznitsova on Unsplash