Pharmacy Daily | New August PBS listings

HEALTH Minister Tanya Plibersek yesterday revealed a number of new additions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, including melanoma treatment Yervoy (ipilumab) which she said would save patients requiring the treatment more than $110,000 a year on average. A new drug for treating prostate cancer, abiraterone (Zytiga) will also be listed on the PBS. Subsidies for vinorelbine (Navelbine) which costs on average around $17,314 per year to treat advanced breast cancer will also be extended. Rivaroxaban – marketed as Xarelto – will soon be subsidised as a treatment for the prevention of stroke in patients with irregular heartbeat and treatment of blood clots in the lungs and legs. Irregular heartbeat or nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is common among older people and increases the risk of severe stroke. The extension of the PBS subsidy will cost the Australian Government more than $450 million over four years and will benefit around 120,000 patients per year. Without PBS subsidy, rivaroxaban costs around $1200 per year for the average patient. Plibsersek said two drugs used to terminate pregnancy for medical reasons would also be available through the PBS from 1 August. Mifepristone (Linepharma) and misoprostol (GyMiso200) will be subsidised for medical terminations up to 49 days of gestation. A total of 17 new and amended PBS listings will come into effect between 1 August and 1 October this year at a cost to the government of almost $1 billion over four years,” she said. “We are able to provide these medicines at a subsidised price because of our diligent work to ensure that the PBS also provides good value for taxpayers and is sustainable,” Plibersek added.

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