Supporting best use of specialised medicines for inflammatory bowel disease

Up-to-date information and tools are now available from the Targeted Therapies Alliance to help support gastroenterologists, GPs and nurses to optimise the safety and health outcomes of biological and other specialised medicines for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

NPS MedicineWise CEO Adj A/Prof Steve Morris says Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, known collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), is increasing in prevalence in Australia and can lead to significant morbidity and impaired quality of life.

“Treatment options for IBD can be complex and tools to assist with effective management are crucial to help guide shared decision making between health professionals and their patients,” said Mr Morris.

“The new resources from the Targeted Therapies Alliance will support health professionals in the safe and wise use of first-line therapies in inflammatory bowel disease while ensuring the best possible health and economic outcomes from investment in these therapies.

“Importantly, the members of the Targeted Therapies Alliance worked closely with the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) and Crohn’s & Colitis Australia to develop these resources which were developed with input from consumers with IBD,” he said.

A/Prof Jakob Begun, Chair of the GESA IBD Faculty, says the tools were developed through a collaborative effort.

“These new tools will be a valuable resource for health care professionals and our IBD patients, leading to improved outcomes through better use of IBD medications,” he said.

The new resources include:

• A decision aid to facilitate shared decision making between health professionals and consumers on the use of aminosalicyates (5-ASAs) for ulcerative colitis
• An action plan to encourage adherence to thiopurines for Crohn’s disease – for health professionals and consumers
• An action plan to encourage adherence to low-dose methotrexate for Crohn’s disease – for health professionals and consumers
• A webinar for GPs and general gastroenterologists at 7:00pm-8:00pm AEST on Tuesday 11 May 2021 on Inflammatory bowel disease: diagnosis and management in primary care and beyond. The free online event will feature an interdisciplinary panel comprising a specialist inflammatory bowel disease gastroenterologist, a general gastroenterologist and a GP as they consider some of the challenges faced in the diagnosis and management of patients with IBD.

Part of a wider three-year program to ensure the best possible health and economic outcomes from the use of bDMARDs and other specialised medicines, the new gastroenterology resources complement existing Targeted Therapies Alliance resources focused on rheumatological conditions. Information for pharmacists on gastroenterological conditions will be released shortly and new tools and resources for dermatological conditions are currently under development.

About the Targeted Therapies Alliance

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Value in Prescribing – Biological Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (bDMARDs) Program Grant, and led by NPS MedicineWise, members of the Targeted Therapies Alliance include:

• Arthritis Australia
• Australia and New Zealand Musculoskeletal (ANZMUSC) Clinical Trials Network
• Australian Rheumatology Association
• Cochrane Musculoskeletal
• Council of Australian Therapeutic Advisory Groups
• NPS MedicineWise
• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
• Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre (University of South Australia)
• Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia

The Alliance is jointly responsible for a range of evidence-based educational resources, tools and interventions to support consumers, specialist prescribers, pharmacists, nurses and governance bodies.

For more information on the Targeted Therapies Alliance, bDMARDs and other specialised medicines, visit the program website.

ENDS

Media enquiries: Stephanie Childs, NPS MedicineWise Communications & PR Manager: 0419 618 365 or media@nps.org.au