New August PBS listings
July 1, 2013
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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