More cheaper medicines to help Australians fight complex and chronic illness

Australians living with autoimmune disease, lymphoma, Parkinson's, motor neuron disease and cerebral palsy will have access to new medicines thanks to expanded and new listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
 
Ravulizumab (Ultomiris®) will be listed for the first time for the treatment of newly diagnosed and treatment resistant patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti‑acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive.
 
In gMG, the immune system makes antibodies which attack a part of the muscles. This attack sets off a chain reaction which ends up damaging the area where nerves meet muscles and makes it harder for the muscles to work properly.
 
Ultomiris® blocks a specific protein (C5) involved in this process, stopping the chain reaction before it can do more harm. By doing this, Ultomiris® helps reduce inflammation and protects muscles from further damage.
 
An estimated 3,000 Australians were living with generalised myasthenia. Without PBS subsidy patients could pay around $25,000 per script.
 
Glofitamab in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (Glofit-GemOx®) will be listed for the first time for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (RR DLBCL) who have received one or more lines of systemic therapy and are unable to receive autologous stem cell transplant or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) cell therapy.
 
RR DLBCL is a form of DLBCL, the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in which the disease either returns after a period of improvement or does not respond to the initial treatment.
 
Glofit-GemOx®is a monoclonal antibody and helps the immune system to destroy the cancer cells. It helps the immune system fight and kill the lymphoma cells at the same time.
 
Over 500 Australians are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without the PBS subsidy, they could pay more than $15,000 per script.
 
IncobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®) will be expanded for the treatment of chronic sialorrhea, a condition that causes excessive saliva and can lead to swallowing difficulties, aspiration risk and social discomfort.
 
Chronic sialorrhea often occurs in people with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease or cerebral palsy. It can interfere with eating and speaking, increase health risks and place a heavy burden on patients and carers.
 
Xeomin® works by reducing saliva production through targeted muscle relaxation, helping to improve comfort, reduce complications and enhance quality of life.
 
The overall prevalence of chronic sialorrhea among children and adolescents was found to be approximately 0.6%. Without the PBS subsidy patients could pay around $1,500 per script.
 
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 403 new and amended listings on the PBS.
 
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
 
“The Albanese Government is working to ensure Australians living with complex and chronic illness have access life changing medicines.
 
“These new and expanded listings will significantly reduce costs for patients, making the treatments accessible for thousands of Australians.
 
“We want all Australians to get the treatment they need faster and live better lives for longer.”