MERCK has this morning
confirmed a change to the PBS
listing of Fosamax, which will allow
the treatment to be accessed by
patients aged 70 or older with a
Bone Mineral Density T-score of
-2.5 or less and no prior fracture.
The expanded criteria under
Authority Required (streamlined)
prescriptions, has moved from the
previous measure using a BMD
T-Score of -3.0 or less, and will
“provide reimbursed treatment
options to a group of patients with
osteoporosis who have previously
had to pay on private prescription
or wait for the disease to worsen
before being eligible for
reimbursement,” the company said.
Patients with established
osteoporosis and a prior fracture
from minimal trauma also remain
eligible for Fosamax regardless of
their age and BMD T-Score.
