A life-changing breast cancer medicine listed by the Turnbull Government on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) will be available for patients around the electorate of Flinders from July 1 this year.
Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, said the investment of $703.6 million by the Government will mean that more than 3,000 Australian patients with inoperable or metastatic hormone receptor positive breast cancer will benefit from the 1 July listing of ribociclib (Kisqali®).
“Hormone receptor positive tumours are the most common form of breast cancer and account for most of the deaths from the disease” Minister Hunt said.
“By inhibiting two proteins that drive the growth of tumour cells, ribociclib — used in combination with other drugs — will slow the progression of inoperable and metastatic breast cancers in some patients.
“This medication would otherwise cost patients around $71,820 per year but under the PBS patients will cost $39.50 per script while concessional patients will pay $6.40 per script.”
Breast Cancer Network Australia’s Kirsten Pillatti said that today was a momentous day for breast cancer sufferers around Australia.
“Today is a great day for women newly diagnosed with hormone-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. This means that no woman newly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer will hear the words, “your breast cancer has spread”, followed by, “treatment may cost you up to $5,000 per month”.
“While this listing on the PBS is only for women newly diagnosed with hormone-positive, HER-negative metastatic breast cancer, this is a critical first step to getting ribociclb (or one of the other CDK inhibitors) listed on the PBS for use as a later line treatment.”
“It is clear that the Minister is committed to approving any new treatments for women following a PBAC recommendation and this is great for all our members.”
The independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended the listing of Kisqali.
The Committee is by law and in practice, independent of Government in its deliberations. By law the Federal Government cannot list a new medicine without a positive recommendation from this committee.
Minister Hunt said since coming into Government, the Coalition has helped improve the health of Australians by subsidising approximately $9 billion worth of new medicines.
“Unlike Labor, we are subsidising all drugs recommended by the PBAC” Minister Hunt said.
“Labor delayed the listing of seven vital drugs – leaving important medicines out of reach for many Australian patients.”
The Coalition’s commitment to the PBS is rock solid. Together with Medicare, it is a foundation of our world-class health care system.”