Pharmacy Daily | …and more approvals

FURTHER announcements from Minister Roxon today included the listing of dutasteride (Avodart) for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement from 01 Feb. Roxon said that about 84,000 men across the country would use Avodart in its first year of listing to help treat prostate enlargement and reduce the likelihood of surgery. Other approvals include the addition of azacitidine (Vidaza) to the PBS for the treatment of the symptoms of bone marrow disorders, and “significantly improve survival rates for over 670 Ausrtalians per year”. From 01 Jan 2011 the Life Saving Drugs program will also give access to Soliris (eculizumab) for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). “I know this will be welcome Christmas news to those 73 patients across Australia needing access to this very expensive drug,” Roxon said. The Soliris move was welcomed by the PNH community, which has been lobbying for the availability of the drug since the government excluded funding from the 2010-11 Federal Budget. PNH kills one third of sufferers within five years of diagnosis if left untreated.

---

The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 09 Dec 10
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 09 Dec 10