| Meeting date | Active Ingredient Name | Summary | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 March 2023 | Semaglutide solution for injection, pre-filled pen | The sponsor asked that the decision made by the Australian Commission of Quality and Safety in Health Care’s advisory group in October 2022, that semaglutide does not meet principles for inclusion in either list, is re-considered. The AIPWG did not have sufficient detail as to why the sponsor is requesting a re-consideration of the Commission’s decision. The Department will clarify with the sponsor it’s reasons for reconsideration against published principles. | Deferred to next meeting in July 2023 |
| 22 March 2023 | Acetic acid, oxyquinoline sulfate and ricinoleic acid vaginal gel | Product is available through the RPBS under ‘other gynecologicals’. There are similar items listed in the LEMI for practicality. | Include in LEMI for practicality |
| 22 March 2023 | Gelatin, pectin and carmellose sodium paste | Product is available through the RPBS under ‘emollients and protectives’. There are similar items listed in the LEMI for practicality. | Include in LEMI for practicality |
| 26 July 2023 | Semaglutide solution for injection, pre-filled pen | Semaglutide products were reconsidered in July AIPWG. Trade names, Ozempic® and Wegovy® are for different indications, i.e., weight loss and diabetes, and have some overlapping strengths. There is a risk of dispensing errors and patient confusion. Additional brand specification is considered appropriate. | Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Ciclosporin eye drops Available in 0.09%, 0.1%, 0.05% | Confusion can occur while prescribing and dispensing. | Include in LMBC on basis of principle 7, similarity of active ingredient names
|
| 26 July 2023 | 1 mg of estradiol (as hemihydrate) and 100 mg of progesterone capsule | There is potential for confusion with other hormone replacement therapy (HRT) products. All hormonal contraceptive pills are on LMBC | Include all HRT products in LMBC on basis of principle 7, similarity of active ingredient names |
| 26 July 2023 | Misoprostol, 25 micrograms tablet | There is a risk of confusion between misoprostol brands. Other higher strengths, misoprostol 200mcg products, Cytotec and Gymiso, are already on LMBC | Meets principle 7, similarity of active ingredient names Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Lenalidomide capsule and pomalidomide capsule | Each company/brand have a separate risk management program, to ensure that pregnant women are not prescribed or supplied the medicine. At its out of session October 2022 meeting, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended that bioequivalent brands of lenalidomide and equivalent brand of pomalidomide should not be considered equivalent for the purposes of substitution on the PBS for practicality reasons. (Not ‘a’ flagged) | Lenalidomide and pomalidomide meet principle 9, Highly Specialised Drugs. Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Estradiol + norethisterone acetate available in 50/140 and 50/250 patch, 8. | Estalis continuous 50/140 and 50/250 have same active ingredient and within the same product range of Estalis Sequi that can be confused with. | Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Estradiol 1mg + dydrogesterone 5mg tablet | Femoston-Conti has same active ingredient and within the same product range of Femoston that can be confused with. | Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Betamethasone (as dipropionate) 0.05% cream and ointment, 15g | Diprosone and Eleuphrat ointment and cream has same active ingredient and within the same product range of Diprosone OV that can be confused with. | Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Budesonide – formoterol powder for inhalation 400 mcg/12mcg /actuation | Spiromax® and Turbuhaler® devices are both dry powder inhalers but they are designed differently and have different instructions for use 200 microgram-6 microgram strength of these inhalers is on the LMBC Delivery device continuity required | Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Amphotericin B (amphotericin) 50mg powder for injection vial | AmBisome amphotericin B (liposomal amphotericin 50 mg) and Amphotericin B Mylan (amphotericin B 50 mg) are on the LMBC. Rules apply to all TGA registered brands of amphotericin | Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Levothyroxine sodium 50, 75, 100, 125, 200 microgram tablet | Some products have different storage requirements and substitution between brands are not recommended. | Include in LMBC |
| 26 July 2023 | Mycophenolic acid (as sodium) 180, 360 mg enteric coated tablet | Myfortic brand of mycophenolate mofetil 180 mg and 360 mg enteric coated tablets is also available on the LMBC Rules apply to all TGA registered Mycophenolate brands | Include in LMBC |
| 22 November 2023 | Abiraterone acetate 125mg and methylprednisolone 4 mg tablet | Availability of the single and composite pack may cause confusion.
| Include in LMBC on basis of principle 7, similarity of active ingredient names |
| 22 November 2023 | Monobasic sodium phosphate (161mg/mL) + dibasic sodium phosphate heptahydrate (59.3mg/mL) enema | Does not meet principles for inclusion in the LEMI; recommended to be included in LMBC. | Include in LMBC |
| 22 November 2023 | Risedronate sodium, 35mg enteric coated tablet | Differences in release characteristics between brands with the same active ingredient and strength. | Include in LMBC |
| 22 November 2023 | Betacarotene 0.0002 g + Ispaghula Husk Dry 3.5 g sachet | Apart from the product being an RPBS item, no other principles were met for inclusion in the LEMI. There are no patient safety risks. | Not recommended for inclusion in LEMI |
| 22 November 2023 | Psyllium Husk Powder 3.4g/7 g powder for oral liquid, 504 g
| Apart from the product being an RPBS item, no other principles were met for inclusion in the LEMI. There are no patient safety risks | Not recommended for inclusion in LEMI |
| 22 November 2023 | Macrogol-3350, 1g/g, 510g, powder for oral liquid | Apart from the product being an RPBS item, no other principles were met for inclusion in the LEMI. There are no patient safety risks. | Not recommended for inclusion in LEMI |
| 29 October 2024 | Melatonin prolonged release tablet 1 mg and 5 mg | Different formulation exists for different indications, with the same strength (Voquily immediate release capsules 5mg indicated for children 6-18 years while Slenyto prolonged release tablet 5 mg is indicated for children 2 – 18 years). The active ingredient of melatonin meets the principles for inclusion in the LMBC - different formulation, same active, different indications or dosing regimens or different release characteristics. | Include in LMBC |
| 24 July 2025 | Aripiprazole, Risperidone | IM antipsychotics are considered high risk medicines and appropriate for additional brand specification. | Include all IM antipsychotics in the LMBC (aripiprazole, risperidone, haloperidol and olanzapine IM) |
| 24 July 2025 | Warfarin, Methylprednisolone aceponate | Medicines with identical active ingredients are currently listed in the LMBC as per the Active Ingredient Prescribing principles. The AIPWG considered these medicines appropriate for additional brand name specification and did not meet the principles for exclusion. | Retain on LMBC |
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