New Drugs

As I foreshadowed last year, several exciting new drugs that make a dramatic change to people’s wellbeing have become available.

Herceptin®, for the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer, has been available through the Herceptin® Program since December 2001. Recent evidence has shown that Herceptin® is also of value in preventing the recurrence of breast cancer in an important sub-group of women who are HER-2 positive. Following a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, Herceptin® was made available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Another important new drug on the PBS is Lucentis®, which is now available to treat macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness. As part of the arrangements for listing Lucentis® on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Visudyne®, which is currently available under a Health Program Grant, will be transferred to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Lucentis® has the potential to delay or even prevent blindness. About 11,500 people are expected to begin treatment with Lucentis® in the first full financial year of listing.

In all, 34 new drugs were assessed and made available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme throughout the year.