Migraine and sarcoma medications added to PBS

Subsidised treatment options for people with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer have also been expanded.

Thousands of patients are in line to save significantly on their yearly medical bills thanks to two new additions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
 

Eptinezumab (sold as Vyepti) is now on the PBS for the first time, the first intravenous calcitonin gene related peptide inhibitor treatment for the prevention of migraines to be listed.
 

The medication is aimed at those with chronic migraine who have not responded to, or cannot take other, preventive medications.
 

More than 4500 people are expected to benefit from the addition, with treatment currently costing patients more than $6000 a year.
 

Trabectedin (sold as Yondelis) will also be listed on the PBS for the first time, treating patients with leiomyosarcoma or liposarcoma.
 

Around 1600 Australians are diagnosed with the rare cancer each year, with around 50 additional patients expected to benefit from this new treatment option.
 

Unsubsidised, patients can pay $44,000 per course of treatment, whereas it will now cost around $30 a script.

 Additionally, enzalutamide (sold as Xtandi), which is already on the PBS, will be expanded to include the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
 

The addition comes after apalutamide (sold as Erlyand) was listed on the PBS in June this year for the same type of prostate cancer.
 

Around 3000 Australians will have a choice between the two treatment options.
 

Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said the PBS additions will provide ‘immense relief’ for sufferers.
 

‘These PBS listings will put new life-changing treatments and new hope in reach for thousands of Australians,’ he said.