Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) Program in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-18051134

RA is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling and loss of joint function.

Listing dates:

• etanercept - 1 August 2003
• infliximab - 1 February 2004
• adalimumab - 1 May 2004
• abatacept - 1 March 2008
• certolizumab - 1 August 2010
• golimumab - 1 August 2010
• tocilizumab - 1 August 2010
• tofacitinib - 1 October 2015
• baricitinib - 1 September 2018
• upadacitinib - 1 May 2020

See Written Authority Required Drugs for more details.

Transition from JIA/sJIA to RA

A patient may receive:

• treatment through initial 2 restriction using grandfather baseline scores (change or recommencement of treatment after a break in biological medicine of less than 24 months) when:
• they have received PBS-subsided treatment for paediatric severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), and
• the condition has been reclassified to rheumatoid arthritis as an adult

Treatment failures

• A patient cannot trial and fail (or cease to respond) to the same PBS-subsidised biological medicine
• Once a patient has either failed or ceased to respond to a PBS-subsidised biologic medicine for this condition 5 times in a lifetime, they will no longer be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment for this condition

Transfer enquiries about prescription arrangements to PBS Complex Drugs Program, and choose the option relevant to the condition treated.