Patients to benefit from new PBS listings
The listing of 11 prescription medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme announced by the Federal Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek will provide patients with affordable access to cost-effective treatments, Medicines Australia chief executive Brendan Shaw said today.
Dr Shaw said the new listings would provide additional options for patients suffering from conditions including Parkinson’s disease, cystic fibrosis, prostate cancer, kidney cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
“These PBS listings will be welcomed by patients and I am encouraged by the Government’s commitment to making these medicines available,” Dr Shaw said.
“The Australian medicines industry continues to work hard to develop the medicines and vaccines that save lives, reduce pain and prevent disease.
“The bottom line is that the options available for Australian patients improve as a result of new medicines being developed and made available to the people who need them.”
The 11 new PBS listings are:
- Aflibercept (Eylea®), for age-related macular degeneration, manufactured by Bayer;
- Auranofin (Ridaura®), for rheumatoid arthritis, BNM Group;
- Bortezomib (Velcade®), bone marrow cancer, Janssen;
- Cabazitaxel (Jevtanal®), metastatic prostate cancer, Sanofi;
- Denosumab (Prolia®), osteoporosis, Amgen;
- Etanercept (Enbrel®), severe chronic psoriasis for children, Pfizer;
- Human menopausal gonadotrophin (Menopur®), IVF, Ferring;
- Icatibant (Firazyr®), hereditary angioedema (swelling that can impede breathing); Shire
- Mannitol (Bronchitol®), cystic fibrosis, Pharmaxis;
- Pazopanib (Votrient®), kidney cancer, GlaxoSmithKline;
- Rasagiline (Azilect®), Parkinson’s disease, Lundbeck.
These are either new medicines or new uses for existing medicines already on the PBS.
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Contact Person:
Jamie Nicholson
Media Communications Manager
Phone: 0419 220 293
Email: Jamie.Nicholson@medicinesaustralia.com.au