NATION Cancer patient boon
HUNDREDS of leukaemia patients will now be able to get their hands on a revolutionary treatment priced at up to $ 190,000 for as little as $ 40.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will today announce a subsidy for the cost of Ibrutinib, used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukaemia when other treatments don’t work.
The $ 460 million listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has been praised by medical experts as a major milestone for patients, who are mainly aged over 60.
Almost 1000 Australians a year are expected to benefit.
Mr Turnbull said providing affordable access to the drug “will change and save lives”.
“This life- changing treatment has been out of reach for many patients. That will all now change,” he said.
From December 1, it will cost a maximum of $ 38.80 per script, and just $ 6.30 for people with concession cards.
Jim Coomes, 75, was diagnosed with the cancer four years ago and given 18 months to live.
Chemotherapy was not an option, and another treatment led to a mild heart attack.
He said the drug had made “an enormous difference”.
Though not in remission, he could “lead a normal life” and was even contemplating returning to work as a town planning consultant.
“It’s a brilliant drug ... It really does give your life back to you,” the Canterbury man said.
The medicine is an oral therapy which blocks signals to a protein which is critical to the growth and survival of the leukaemia cells.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was continuing to make medicines more affordable. More than 60 cancer drugs had been subsidised in the last four years, and one in every $ 6 spent by the PBS was now directed to cancer treatments.
Associate Professor Constantine Tam, the clinical lead for the disease at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, said the treatment had been studied extensively and he was “delighted” it would now be made more accessible for patients.
Drug manufacturer Janssen said more than 900 Australian and New Zealand patients had received the treatment since 2014, through a patient access program.
“This is an important moment in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia which we know will be welcomed by doctors, patients and their families,” managing director Bruce Goodwin said.