PEOPLE with cervical cancer, urothelial cancer, and spinal muscular atrophy will now have access to new or expanded treatment options through the PBS.
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is now listed to treat patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer.
About 270 women each year will benefit from this listing, and without the subsidy, they might pay around $137,000 per course of treatment.
Padcev (enfortumab) will be listed for the first time to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer whose disease has progressed even after therapy.
About 490 Australians will benefit from this listing which otherwise would see them pay $53,000 for a treatment course.
Evrysdi (risdiplam) will be expanded on the PBS to treat more patients with spinal muscular atrophy, including adult patients who had symptoms before they turned 19 years and had no prior treatment, as well as for children and infants genetically diagnosed with the most severe types of spinal muscular atrophy before symptom onset.
About 130 infants, children, and adults will benefit from this listing, which instead could cost over $300,000 per year of treatment.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 17 Oct 23
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