In brief
Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been expanded on Nov. 1 to include a child-friendly formulation of Trikafta for cystic fibrosis, Tepezza for thyroid eye disease, an expanded first‑line use of Adcetris for Hodgkin lymphoma, and larger dispensation limits for Repatha. The moves are expected to benefit thousands each year, bringing expensive therapies under government subsidy.
Australia’s government announced on Sunday that its Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will broaden subsidised access to five major therapies from Nov. 1, expanding treatment options for cystic fibrosis, blood cancer, and thyroid eye disease. The changes were reported by Xinhua in Canberra, where Health Minister Mark Butler outlined the new listings and expected annual beneficiaries.
Under the updated PBS, children aged six to 11 with cystic fibrosis who weigh less than 30 kg will now qualify for a granule form of Trikafta, a medicine that targets the genetic root cause of the condition. The child‑friendly formulation aims to help those who struggle to swallow tablets. Roughly 3,300 Australians are projected to receive the subsidy each year. Without PBS support, the treatment could cost more than A$20,300 (about US$14,200) per prescription.
The scheme also added Tepezza to address active, moderate‑to‑severe thyroid eye disease. The new listing is expected to benefit around 310 Australians annually, helping patients to access a therapy that had previously been unavailable under the PBS.
In a move to improve care for blood cancer patients, subsidised access to Adcetris has been expanded to provide a new first‑line treatment for patients with advanced CD30‑positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma. The change could benefit an estimated 370 Australians each year, according to government figures.
Finally, the PBS listing for Repatha, a high‑cholesterol medication, has been amended to allow eligible patients to obtain larger quantities under the government’s 60‑day prescription initiative. Under the new arrangement, patients will pay a maximum of A$25 per prescription, or A$7.70 for concession card holders. The government said it has approved 511 new and amended PBS listings since July 2022.
