New life changing medicines listed on the PBS

From 1 October 2025, Australians affected by breast cancer and rare kidney disease will have access to more cheaper medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Capivasertib (Truqap®) will be listed on the PBS for the first time for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that cannot be removed by surgery, is hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer

Truqap works by blocking the effects of AKT kinases – proteins that are often overactive in cancer cells and help them to grow and multiply.

Truqap, in combination with fulvestrant, can reduce the growth and spread of cancer and help to destroy cancer cells.

Each year, about 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer, approximately 22 per cent progress to metastatic (advanced or late stage) disease within 14 years and around 1,000 have metastatic breast cancer at first diagnosis.

Up to 3,000 patients each year are expected to benefit from PBS listing of Truqap. Without listing on the PBS a course of treatment of Truqap would cost more than $98,000.

Estetrol with Drospirenone (Nextstellis®) is listed on the PBS for the first time to expand contraceptive choices. This combination oral contraceptive prevents ovulation by altering the hormonal signals that regulate the menstrual cycle.

Around 1.7 million Australian women of reproductive age use some form of contraception every year. In 2024, around 520,000 patients accessed a comparable oral contraception.

Without listing on the PBS Nextsellis would cost more than $328 per year. 

Lumasiran (Oxlumo®) is a new therapy that treats primary hyperoxaluria type 1 – a rare genetic condition causing high oxalate levels, leading to kidney stones and potential kidney failure. Lumasiran targets the root cause by blocking the production of a liver enzyme and reducing oxalate formation.

Around 50 people per year are expected to benefit from PBS listing for this medicine, which would otherwise cost more than $392,000 per year.

Ranibizumab (Lucentis®) is a new listing that will be used to treat serious eye conditions caused by diabetes. Lucentis works by inhibiting abnormal blood vessel growth in the eye.

Around 500 patients each year could benefit from this listing, saving more than $9,000 for a year’s treatment.

PBS listing means eligible patients will pay a maximum of $31.60 per script, or just $7.70 with a concession card. From 1 January 2026, under the government’s policy they will pay a maximum of just $25 per script.

Since July 2022, the Australian Government has approved extra funding for 371 new and amended listings on the PBS.

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

“October is breast cancer awareness month, and the Government is ensuring new treatments are available to breast cancer patients at affordable PBS prices.

“We know these new and expanded listings will be lifechanging for thousands of Australians.

“Instead of paying thousands of dollars for treatment, now patients will just pay PBS prices.