New PBS meds

FEDERAL Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced additional PBS funding to support leukaemia and acromegaly patients.

Zydelig (delalisib) from Gilead will be made available to treat eligible patients with certain types of leukaemia, including relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic leukaemia while also helping patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.

tithout subsidy, the treatment would cost between $60,500 and $115,800 per year per patient.

Pfizer’s Somavert (pegvisomant) is also listed for patients suffering from Acromegaly, a rare condition characterised by a consistently high level of circulating growth hormone.

Full details available at pbs.gov.au.