New medicines listed on the PBS

About 45,000 people will benefit from new and cheaper medicines following the federal government’s approval of 11 new medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

“The listing of these medicines on the PBS will offer patients access to new, affordable treatments which will directly benefit their health,” Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, said.

She added Australians would benefit in the coming months from the federal government’s decision to provide subsidised access to a further 10 medicines through the PBS. 

“This will ensure more patients have greater access to the medicines and treatment they need at subsidised prices,” she said. 

Some of the new medicines are: 

• aflibercept (Eylea®) – for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration in patients new to drug treatment 
• auranofin (Ridaura®) – for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
• bortezomib (Velcade®) – for the treatment of newly diagnosed bone marrow cancer for patients who are eligible for high dose chemotherapy, as part of combination therapy 
• cabazitaxel (Jevtana®) – for the treatment of a certain type of metastatic prostate cancer 
• denosumab (Prolia®) – for the treatment of osteoporosis in women aged at least 70 years with a bone mineral density measured as a T-score of -2.5 or greater 
• icatibant (Firazyr®) – for the treatment of attacks of hereditary angioedema (unpredictable episodes of swelling in people that can impede breathing if affecting the throat) 
• pazopanib (Votrient®) – for the treatment of a certain type of kidney cancer 
• rasagiline (Azilect®) – for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in certain patients. 

The decision to list aflibercept (Eylea®) will benefit patients who have not previously received treatment for age-related macular degeneration.

“This listing will reduce the number of visits to the doctor that some patients need to make to receive the injections, from every month to every two months,” Ms Plibersek said.

“This will particularly benefit patients in rural and regional areas who don’t have easy access to their doctor.

“Patients would have to pay more than $13,000 per year for this medicine without subsidised access through the PBS.”

Listings are subject to final arrangements being met by the suppliers of the medicines. 

The federal government has also agreed to increase the price of six medicines currently listed on the PBS. This will ensure a number of essential medicines continue to be available.

The price increases for these medicines will have no impact on concessional patients which constitute about 80% of PBS prescriptions. The maximum amount they will pay for their prescriptions is $5.80.  General patients will continue to have access to subsidised medicines and will pay between $0.57 and $3.54 more for these medicines. 

A full list of the price increases is available on the PBS website.