Value in Prescribing biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) Program

Targeted Therapies Alliance

The Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA) has joined NPS MedicineWise and seven other organisations representing specialists, pharmacists, consumers and research experts to form the Targeted Therapies Alliance. The Alliance provides stewardship and direction about the safe and wise use of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and other specialised medicines. 

Inflammatory arthritis

The Targeted Therapies Alliance has developed information and resources for health professionals and consumers, including practical tools for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA). 

Resources for rheumatologists

• An Australian living guideline for the pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis
• Supporting safe practices for low-dose methotrexate: CATAG position statement on the use of low-dose methotrexate (PDF) 
• ARA Podcasts
  • A round up of resources for inflammatory arthritis
  • Down-titration of b/tsDMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis
  • The contemporary use of methotrexate and glucocorticoids in RA
  • Demystifying biologics, their biosimilars and the PBS
• ARA webinars
  • Australian living guideline: Down-titration of b/tsDMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis
  • Opioids and inflammatory arthritis - The current state of evidence and use in Australia
  • The real risks of glucocorticoids in RA - what Australia says!
  • The Great Debate: To triple therapy or not to triple therapy for RA? - That is the quiestion
• bDMARDs down-titration algorithm (PDF)
• bDMARDs down-titration strategies used in clinical trials
• bDMARDs down-titration patient decision aid (PDF)
• PBS Practice Review: Rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical Updates: A clinical update visiting service is now available for rheumatologists. These one-to-one clinical updates provide an opportunity to discuss the current best available evidence around medicines for inflammatory arthritis. Register your interest here.

For more information, visit the Rheumatology conditions for health professionals page on the NPS MedicineWise website.

Resources for Patients

• Video: Living with Arthritis – Australians talk about their treatment journeys
• Video: Living with rheumatoid arthritis: Suzanne’s story
• Video: Treating inflammatory arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis roadmap (PDF)
• Psoriatic arthritis roadmap (PDF)
• Ankylosing spondylitis roadmap (PDF)
• Methotrexate action plan (PDF)
• Decision aid: My rheumatoid arthritis is under control – what should I do about my medicine? (PDF)
• Fact sheet: My rheumatoid arthritis is well controlled with a biological or targeted medicine: can I take less medicine? (PDF)
• A flares action plan (PDF)
• Translated resources (Arabic, Simplified Chinese and Vietnamese) - inflammatory arthritis 
• Safe use of low-dose Methotrexate Factsheet
• Decision aid: Starting medicine for rheumatoid arthritis: Should I consider triple therapy?

For more information, visit the Rheumatology conditions for consumers page on the NPS MedicineWise website. 

Additional Resources

• Avoiding the nocebo effect: talking to your patients about biosimilars
• MedicineWise News article: Biologics, biosimilars and PBS sustainability
• Understanding biosimilars: For your patients
• SHPA bDMARDs quick reference guide
• SHPA Biologics Devices Poster
• CATAG guiding principles for the governance of biologics and their biosimilars in Australian hospitals
• ​CATAG Navigating High-Cost Medicines - Guiding principles for the governance of high-cost medicines in Australian hospitals
• For your patients: NPS MedicineWise app
• For your patients: NPS MedicineWise medicines list

For more information about the Targeted Therapies Alliance and the Value in Prescribing bDMARDs program, visit www.nps.org.au/bdmards