ATC update 2021
Posted in News, Publications
The World Health Organization list of ATC (Anatomic Therapeutic Classification) codes and DDD (Defined Daily Doses) for 2021 is currently available on the website (https://www.whocc.no/ ).
It is of note that there are no changes to any DDD in this update. The new ATC codes include references for many of the drugs included in the Cancer Drugs Fund such as polatuzumab vedotin and isatuximab.
There are new DDD for several of the monoclonal antibodies in several categories.
Among the changes to the ATC codes, many of the newer chemotherapy drugs previously categorised in L01XX and L01XE have been moved to a new hierarchy based on the inhibited pathway, for example L01EJ – Janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Many of these are oral formulations and dosing is less dependent on patient weight, body surface area or blood for dose calculation or adjustment than for parenteral chemotherapy. The WHO has created temporary defined daily doses (DDD) for many of these products for inclusion in the 2022 release. These have been brought into the Rx info data and are available for creation of reports based on DDD usage. These DDD are not finalised, and will be amended as the available information changes during the year.