Australians with Parkinson's disease, neuroblastoma, endometrial cancer, cystic fibrosis and melanoma will have access to new and expanded medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 August 2025.
Foslevodopa with Foscarbidopa (Vyalev®) will be listed for the first time to treat advanced Parkinson's disease with severe disabling motor fluctuations not adequately controlled by oral therapy.
Parkinson's disease is a common and progressive neurological disease. Parkinson's disease results from the loss of cells in parts of the brain that produce dopamine.
Common symptoms include tremors, muscle stiffness and difficulty with movement.
Vyaley is a combination of 2 medicines that are delivered by a pump to provide a steady flow of medication. This medicine helps reduce tremors and improve movement.
Around 330 Australians are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without the PBS subsidy, they could pay more than $131,000 for a year of treatment.
Eflornithine (Ifinwil®) will be listed for the first time to prevent relapse in children with high-risk neuroblastoma who are in remission after other cancer therapies.
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer where nerve cells grow out of control and is the most common tumour found outside the brain in young children. It is aggressive and difficult to treat.
Eflornithine (also known as DFMO) works by blocking a certain enzyme, which may slow down or stop the cancer from growing. It may also help reduce the risk of cancer coming back.
Around 20 Australian children are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without the PBS subsidy they could pay more than $417,000 for a course of treatment.
In 2024-25, the Australian Government provided funding to state and territory governments to allow eligible patients to access DFMO free of change, until the medicine became available through an Expanded Access Program or was listed on the PBS.
Nivolumab and Ipilimumab (Opdivo®; Yervoy®) will be listed to treat patients with Stage III melanoma before surgery.
Australia has the highest melanoma rates in the world with one person diagnosed with the disease every 30 minutes and one person dying every 6 hours.
Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer, and if not detected early, can spread throughout the body, including lungs, liver and brain.
Opdivo and Yervoy help the immune system find and attack cancer cells by blocking a protein that normally hides them. This treatment given before surgery can shorten the treatment time, slow down or stop the cancer from returning.
Around 390 Australians are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without the PBS subsidy, they could pay more than $31,000 for a course of treatment.
PBS listing means eligible patients will pay a maximum of $31.60 per script, or just $7.70 with a concession card. From 1 January 2026, under the government's policy they will pay a maximum of just $25 per script.
Durvalumab (Imfinzi®) will be expanded on the PBS to be used in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the treatment of deficient mismatch repair endometrial cancer.
Deficient mismatch repair endometrial cancer is a type of womb cancer where the cells lose the ability to properly fix DNA damage. This leads to an accumulation of genetic changes, which can drive cancer growth and progression.
Imfiinzi works by blocking PD-L1, a protein that helps cancer cells hide from the immune system. This helps the body find and attack the cancer, which may slow or stop its growth and reduce the chance of it returning.
Around 60 Australians each year are expected to benefit from this listing. Without the PBS subsidy they could pay more than $239,000 per course of treatment.
Since July 2022, the Australian Government has approved extra funding for 351 new and amended listings on the PBS.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
"The Albanese Government is committed to making life changing medicines cheaper for all Australians.
"These new and expanded medicines on the PBS will bring real relief to Australians who are facing severe health conditions.
"Instead of 6 figures, these medicines are available for $31.60 at the most. This is part of our promise to give Australians early, affordable and safe access to breakthrough treatments."
