From August 2023, Australians with chronic migraine and soft tissue sarcoma will have access to new medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
People with chronic migraine who haven't responded to, or can't take other preventive medications, will now have affordable access to eptinezumab (Vyepti®), which will be listed on the PBS for the first time.
Vyepti is the first intravenous calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) inhibitor treatment for the prevention of migraines to be listed on the PBS and over 4,500 patients are expected to benefit from this new treatment option.
Without the subsidy, patients could pay more than $6,000 per year of treatment.
Trabectedin (Yondelis®) will also be listed on the PBS for the first time to treat patients with leiomyosarcoma or liposarcoma.
Leiomyosarcoma and liposarcoma are types of soft tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer that around 1,600 Australians are diagnosed with each year.
Around 50 additional patients are expected to benefit from this new treatment option. Without the subsidy, patients could pay over $44,000 per course of treatment.
Since 1 July 2022, there has been additional funding approved for 108 new and amended listings on the PBS.
The listing of enzalutamide (Xtandi®) will be expanded to include the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
This follows the recent listing in June 2023 by the Government of Erlyand® (apalutamide) for this type of prostate cancer, which means Australians will now have a choice between these two treatment options. Around 3,000 people each year are expected to benefit from these listings.
Under the PBS, it will now be available for $30.00 per script or $7.30 with a concession card.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"These PBS listings will put new lifechanging treatments and new hope in reach for thousands of Australians.
"The listing of Vyepti will provide immense relief to the thousands of Australians living with chronic migraine.
"The listing of Yondelis will mean patients who have been diagnosed with certain types of rare soft tissue sarcoma will now have access to an additional affordable treatment option, instead of paying over $44,000 per course of treatment it will now cost no more than $30 per script.
"The Albanese Government is continuing to make improvements to the PBS and adding new and amended listings to ensure it meets the needs of Australians, today and into the future."
