Aubagio® (teriflunomide)

The active ingredient is teriflunomide. Aubagio works by selectively interfering with the ability of white blood cells (lymphocytes) to produce the disease response and nerve damage that ultimately leads to relapses.

Benefits of Aubagio

In clinical trials, Aubagio demonstrated a significant positive effect compared with placebo on the 3 measures of MS disease activity:

• Slowing of disability progression
• Fewer brain lesions on MRI
• Reduction of relapses

Further information about the trials and results can be found at www.aubagio.com/teriflunomide-rms/

How is Aubagio administered?

Aubagio is available in tablet form in two strengths; 7mg and 14mg. Your prescribing specialist will recommend the appropriate dosage. Tablets are taken once daily with or without food. It should be taken at the same time each day and with a glass of water.

What are the important considerations when taking Aubagio?

Family planning:

• Aubagio should not be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• For women of childbearing age, it is essential that you use reliable and effective contraception. For more information on effective contraception, contact your healthcare professional or family planning association.
• If you become pregnant or wish to have children, speak to your doctor straight away. This includes men whose partner plans to become pregnant.

You should tell your doctor:

• If you have any allergies or experience an allergic reaction, in case this affects your ability to take Aubagio.
• If you have or have had any medical conditions, including liver problems, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, kidney disease, chronic or serious infections, a decreased white blood cell count or an illness that lowers your body’s resistance to disease.
• About any other medicines (tablets and injections) and herbal or vitamin supplements you are taking, or plan to take.
• If you need to have a vaccination while taking Aubagio or during the first 6 months after stopping treatment with Aubagio. Live vaccines are not recommended during treatment with Aubagio.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

• Diarrhoea
• Rashes, itchy skin
• Hair loss
• Weight loss
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Numbness or tingling of hands or feet

Eligibility

Special Authority must be approved by the Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Assessment Committee (MSTAC) before funding is approved. Applications will be considered by MSTAC at its regular meetings and approved subject to eligibility according to the Entry and Stopping criteria.

For details of the current criteria and how to apply for funded treatment see Disease Modifying Treatment Special Authority Criteria

Feedback from other patients

It is often helpful to review how other people with MS have liked or tolerated a treatments and the benefits and side effects they have experienced.

Patients Like Me – Terifluromide

What to do about a bad reaction to medication

Reports from health professionals are preferred as doctors and other prescribers, pharmacists and nurses usually are able to provide more detailed information about the medications in use and other medical history from patient records that are helpful in evaluating the adverse reaction. However anyone may report a suspected adverse event or reaction to medication taken to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring (CARM).

For instructions and further information https://nzphvc.otago.ac.nz/reporting/

More information

Aubagio website

Aubagio Medsafe Sheet