Cheaper Medicine Access Grows for Thyroid Eye Disease and Lymphoma

Patients across Australia will find it easier to obtain subsidised treatments under recent updates to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The changes cover cystic fibrosis, blood cancer, thyroid eye disease and high cholesterol.

Health Minister Mark Butler said on Sunday that the revised arrangements began on 1 November.

For children aged 6 to 11 years with cystic fibrosis who weigh less than 30 kilograms, Trikafta is now available in granule form. The medicine works on the genetic cause of the disease. The new format is aimed at children who cannot easily swallow tablets.

The government estimates that about 3,300 Australians every year will be able to use this expanded option.

If the medicine were not available at a subsidised price, one prescription could cost more than 20,300 Australian dollars, approximately 14,200 US dollars.

Tepezza has been added to the PBS for the treatment of active, moderate to severe thyroid eye disease. The government expects around 310 Australian patients to benefit annually.

Adcetris is also now more widely accessible through subsidy. It provides a new early treatment option for people with advanced CD30-positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma, a blood cancer. About 370 people a year are expected to gain from this change.

Repatha, used to manage high cholesterol, has also been updated. Eligible patients can now receive a larger amount at one time under the 60-day prescription program.

Under the scheme, eligible patients pay no more than 25 Australian dollars per prescription. The fee is 7.70 Australian dollars for concession card holders.

The government also said that it has approved extra funding for 511 new and amended listings since July 2022.