Cheaper medicines for people fighting lung and bladder cancer

The Australian Government is continuing to deliver cheaper medicines with Australians living with lung or bladder cancer to pay less for new and expanded Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines.

Durvalumab (Imfinzi®) will be expanded to offer new treatments for people with lung and bladder cancer.

Imfinzi® treats limited stage small cell lung cancer in patients whose disease has not progressed during or following chemoradiation therapy.

Limited stage small cell lung cancer is highly aggressive and accounts for up to 13 per cent of all lung cancer diagnoses in Australia.

Australians with a high risk of developing lung cancer can be screened for the disease free of charge through the Australian Government’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program.

Imfinzi® has also been expanded for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is the eleventh most diagnosed cancer in Australia, with over 3,300 diagnosed in 2024.

Without the PBS subsidy, patients would pay more than $11,000 per script.

Repotrectinib (Augtyro®) will be listed for the first time for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic c-ROS protooncogene 1 positive non-small cell lung cancer.

In 2025, around 100 patients accessed a comparable treatment through the PBS. Without subsidy patients might pay $9,700 per script.

The PBS listing means eligible patients will pay a maximum of $25 per script, or just $7.70 with a concession card.

Since July 2022, the Australian Government has approved extra funding for 431 new and amended listings on the PBS.
 
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

“These treatments are life changing for people battling lung and bladder cancer.

“Without listing on the PBS, Australian cancer patients could pay thousands of dollars instead of the newly reduced maximum of $25 per script, or just $7.70 for those who hold a concession card.

“The new and expanded PBS listings are part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to make medicines cheaper and more accessible for all Australians.”