New and expanded cheaper medicines for severe and life-threatening conditions

Australians with post-transplant cytomegalovirus, breast, bile duct and urothelial cancer now have access to new and expanded cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
 
The PBS listing for Livtencity® will be listed for the first time to treat illness caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) after a transplant.
 
CMV can cause infections in patients after they undergo stem cell or organ transplants. CMV infections can cause serious complications, including organ rejection or death.
 
Livtencity® is an antiviral medicine used to treat CMV infections in people post-transplant when other treatments have not worked.
 
Around 260 Australians are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without the PBS subsidy, they could pay more than $39,000 for a course of treatment.
 
The PBS listing for Kisqali® will be expanded to treat patients with early‑stage breast cancer that is hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative, lymph node-positive and at high risk of the cancer returning after surgery.
 
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Australia. On average, 58 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every day.
 
Early breast cancer is when cancer cells are found in the breast or nearby lymph nodes but haven’t spread to other parts of the body.
 
Kisqali® works by blocking the action of specific overactive proteins that signal cancer cells to grow. The drug helps to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
 
Around 620 Australians are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without the PBS subsidy, they could pay more than $139,000 for a course of treatment.
 
Tibsovo® will be PBS-listed for the first time to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer) that contains a particular abnormal form of an enzyme called IDH1.
 
Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare and aggressive cancer that grows in the bile ducts and is often diagnosed late.
 
Tibsovo® blocks the effects of the mutated enzyme and helps to slow or stop the cancer from growing.
 
Around 90 Australians are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without subsidy, the treatment would cost around $123,000 per course of treatment.
 
The PBS listing of Opdivo® will be expanded to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
 
Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer. It starts in the lining of the bladder or nearby parts of the urinary system and may spread to other parts of the body, making it harder to treat.
 
Opdivo® helps the immune system find and attack cancer cells, which can slow down or shrink the cancer.
 
Around 590 patients are expected to benefit from this listing each year. Without subsidy, they could pay more than $105,000 per course of treatment.
 
These PBS listings mean patients will pay a maximum of $31.60 per script, or just $7.70 if they hold a concession card. The price will be even cheaper from 1 January 2026 when the maximum patients pay will drop to just $25 per script.
 
Since July 2022, the Australian Government has approved extra funding for 339 new and amended listings on the PBS.
 
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
 
“The government is committed to making life changing medicines cheaper for all Australians.
 
“The medicine listings being announced on the PBS today will make a world of difference for hundreds of patients who are battling very severe illnesses.
 
“Instead of six-figures, these medicines are available for $31.60 at the most. This is part of our promise to give Australians early, affordable and safe access to breakthrough treatments.”