Australians with cystic fibrosis in Bonner will soon have access to a new treatment following the listing of Trikafta^® on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

From April 1, Trikafta^® (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor and ivacaftor) will be available on the PBS for the first time for Australians with cystic fibrosis aged 12 years and older, who have at least one F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. F508del is the most common mutation.

In Australia, one in 2,500 babies are born with cystic fibrosis and there is currently no cure.

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections. The condition is caused by genetic defects that limit the flow of chloride and water through cell membranes, resulting in a thick, sticky build-up of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs and over time limits the ability to breathe and makes it easier for germs to grow.

Trikafta^® works by improving the flow of chloride and water in patients who have a certain genetic defect and helps improve lung function and breathing.

The median life expectancy for Australians with cystic fibrosis is 47 years. Tragically, this is significantly lower than the average Australian.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said the listing of Trikafta^® on the PBS would be welcome news to those in my local community with CF and their families.

“This is a game changer for Australians with CF in Bonner and their families,” Mr Vasta said.

“Access to Trikafta^® has been out of reach for most of the population with CF, but this listing will ensure more Australians can get the treatment they need, without huge out of pocket costs.

“This just demonstrates our Government’s continued commitment to ensuring Australians can access the medicines and treatments they need, no matter where they live.”

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the listing of Trikafta^® would be life changing for many Australians with cystic fibrosis and their families.

“Without PBS subsidy, around 1,900 Australians would pay more than $250,000 a year for access to Trikafta^®,” Minister Hunt said.

“This treatment is out of reach for most Australians, and now that it will be available on the PBS, patients will only pay a maximum of $42.50 per script, or as little as $6.80 with a concession card.

“I am so proud that one of the final treatments listed on the PBS under my watch as Minister for Health is Trikafta^®. This listing will make access to treatment within reach for thousands of Australians with CF each year.”

Since 2013, the Coalition Government has approved more than 2,800 new and amended listings on the PBS. This is at an overall investment by Government of $15 billion.

The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

This is a stark contrast to Mr Albanese and Labor, who when last in Government stopped listing essential medicines and treatments on the PBS.

This PBS listing has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

From 1 November 2021, Australians in Bonner with a respiratory illness, early onset puberty and blood cancer will have improved access to subsidised medicines through new and amended listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP welcomed the November PBS listings and said many Australians and their families in our local community will be able to access these treatments, reducing their out of pocket costs.

“Our Government has always been committed to ensuring Australians can access the medicines and treatments and our track record with the PBS is reducing medical bills for families across Bonner,” Mr Vasta said.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable and treatable lung disease, which causes the airways in the lungs to narrow, making it difficult to breathe.

About 1 in 20 Australians aged 45 years and over have COPD, tragically, in 2018 it was the fifth leading cause of death^.

Breztri Aerosphere^® (budesonide + glycopyrronium + formoterol) will be available from November 1, 2021 on the PBS to treat COPD. Without PBS subsidy, around 68,000 Australians per year might pay more than $1,000 per year for treatment.

Also from 1 November 2021, Diphereline^® (triptorelin) will be expanded to include the treatment of central precocious puberty (CCP).

In Australia, the average age for the onset of puberty is around 10 years for girls and 12 years for boys. In central precocious puberty, this onset occurs earlier – before 8 years of age in girls and before 9 years in boys.

Diphereline^® works by lowering the levels of the hormone oestrogen for females and testosterone in males that lead to puberty-related changes to the body. Without PBS subsidy, around 800 Australians per year might pay more than $3,600 per year for treatment.

Earlier this year, Darzalex^® (daratumumab) was listed on the PBS for the first time for use in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, as a second-line treatment for around Australians with multiple myeloma.

Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that develops from plasma cells in the bone marrow and it is estimated that around 2,423 Australians will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021. Darzalex® is a ground-breaking treatment mobilises the patient’s own immune system to fight the disease. This treatment will bring improved clinical outcomes and quality of life for those affected by this disease.

From 1 November 2021, these patients will now have access to a new subcutaneous form of Darzalex®, which means it can be given as an injection under the skin.

This additional treatment option for patients will provide a more convenient alternative, delivered as a 5‑minute injection that can be administered at home compared with the intravenous infusion which is given over several hours in a healthcare facility.

Without PBS subsidy, around 1,165 Australians per year might pay more than $136,000 per course of treatment with this new subcutaneous form.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said thousands of Australians and their families will benefit from these new and expanded listings.

“Since 2013, the Coalition Government had approved more than 2,700 new or amended listings on the PBS. This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $13.9 billion,” Minister Hunt said.

“Without PBS subsidies many Australians would be thousands of dollars out of pocket, instead they’ll only pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card for these medicines.

Also available from November 1, 2021, Verzenio® (abemaciclib) will be expanded for use in combination with fulvestrant through the PBS. A new treatment option for Australians battling advanced forms of breast cancer.

These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

From 1 November the Morrison Government will invest more than $86 million over the next four years to provide greater access to life saving medicines for Australians living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and various forms of cancer.

MS is the most commonly acquired neurological disease in younger adults with over 25,600 Australians living with MS and over 2.3 million people affected globally.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt MP said the average age of diagnosis was only 30 and around 75 per cent of those affected with MS in Australia were female.

“There is a high clinical need for effective treatments for patients with progressive forms of relapse onset multiple sclerosis,” Minister Hunt said.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said Mayzent® (siponimod) would be listed on the PBS for the first time to treat those patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

“Without PBS subsidy, these patients would pay more than $25,000 per year for treatment with approximately 800 patients benefiting from this listing each year,” Mr Vasta said.

“The PBS subsidy now means patients will only need to pay $41 per prescription, or $6.60 with a concession card.”

In addition to this listing, Australians diagnosed with a rare type of lymphoma which affects the skin will receive subsidised access to a new medication and specialised treatment from 1 November 2020, through an investment of over $11.5 million.

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin and causes an accumulation of malignant T-cells in the skin, resulting in raised, rash-like or itchy patches of skin, skin lumps or ulcers and swollen lymph nodes.

Mr Vasta said Uvadex® (methoxsalen) would be listed on the PBS for the first time for treatment of patients with erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma who have not responded to other treatments.

“Around 75 patients per year may benefit from this listing and without this PBS subsidy, these Australians would pay more than $3400 per year,” Mr Vasta said.

Other PBS listings from 1 November ­– announced in the Budget 2020-21 – include the expanded listing of:

• Tecentriq® and Avastin® (atezolizumab and bevacizumab) for use in combination to treat patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common type of primary liver cancer. An average of 500 patients per year may benefit from this. They would normally pay up to $170,000 for a course of treatment without PBS subsidy;
• Lynparza® (olaparib) for the treatment of newly diagnosed advanced high grade epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancers. An average of 300 patients per year may benefit from this listing and would normally pay around $140,500 per course of treatment for this medicine.

These PBS listings have been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Since 2013, the Australian Government has approved over 2,450 new or amended listings on the PBS.

This represents an average of around 30 listings or amendments per month – or one each day – at an overall investment by the Government of $11.8 billion.

The Morrison Government’s commitment to ensuring that Australians can access affordable medicines, when they need them, remains rock solid.

Two breakthrough melanoma treatment options have been added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to bring hope to over 2000 Australians with advanced melanoma.

On March 1 the current PBS listing of Opdivo ® (nivolumab) will be expanded to include adjuvant treatment of IIIB, IIIC, IIID and stage IV malignant melanoma.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said Australia had one of the highest rates of melanoma and particularly in his electorate around the bayside, it was important to get regular skin cancer checks.

“The Morrison Government has delivered for melanoma patients by listing this breakthrough treatment on the PBS,” Mr Vasta said

“Without this listing the cost for the course of treatment would be significantly higher.

“It is estimated more than 1500 patients might otherwise pay more than $100,000 per course of treatment without this subsidy.

“With one Australian diagnosed with melanoma every five hours, supporting them with subsidised treatment is making a difference and saving lives.”

The Government is also expanding the listing of Opdivo and Yervoy (nivolumab and ipilimumab) to allow use as a first-line therapy in the treatment of BRAF V600 mutant positive Stage III or Stage IV of unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the expanded listing of Opdivo on the PBS would improve patient recovery.

“These significant expansions will provide melanoma patients with a new breakthrough form of treatment, with less side effects and a greater chance recovery,” Minster Hunt said.

“Each of these listings has been recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.”