Pharmacy Daily | New combos added to PBS

THE Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme now includes two new combination medications for the treatment of hypertension, which were among nine new drugs added to the PBS yesterday. The hypertension additions include Sevikar (PD 25 Oct) (olmesartan with amlodipine) and Exforge (amlodipine with valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide), which have both been listed on a costminimisation basis compared with the constituent components at equivalent doses. Both are indicated for the contorl of hypertension in a patient who is not adequately controlled by the drugs in the respective combination. Also new to the PBS is Aloxi (palonosetron) injection for the treatment of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. Prograf XL (tacrolimus) once daily prolonged release capsules have been added as an Authority Required listing for patients with organ or tissue transplants. And a new six-month prolonged release formulation of Diphereline (triptorelin) has been listed for locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. Other Nov additions include Humira (adalimumab) as a pharmaceutical benefit for people with severe active polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis, as an alternative for prescribers to the currently listed option for the condition, Enbrel (etanercept). And Riamet (artemether with lumefantrine) trablets have been listed for the treatment of malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum, while Alphagan (brimonidine tartrate) 0.15% eye drops have been listed in both the general and optometrical schedules on a costminimiation basis against brimonidine 0.2% eye drops.

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