In brief
Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme now offers subsidised access to a child‑friendly form of Trikafta for cystic fibrosis, expands Adcetris for Hodgkin lymphoma, adds Tepezza for thyroid eye disease and lifts limits on Repatha. The changes could help thousands of patients each year, according to the government.
In Canberra on Sunday, the Australian government announced that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) would allow more patients to receive subsidised treatment for cystic fibrosis, blood cancer and thyroid eye disease. Health Minister Mark Butler explained the changes would take effect on 1 November.
The first major addition is a granule form of Trikafta, a medicine that targets the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis. The new formulation is meant for children aged six to 11 who weigh less than 30 kilograms and have trouble swallowing tablets. Roughly 3,300 Australian children and families are expected to gain from the expanded listing each year.
Without PBS subsidies, a single prescription of Trikafta could cost over 20,300 Australian dollars (about 14,200 U.S. dollars). The government said there is now “additional funding for 511 new and amended PBS listings since July 2022,” making these high‑cost treatments more affordable for patients who qualify.
In addition to cystic fibrosis, the scheme now covers Tepezza for patients with active, moderate‑to‑severe thyroid eye disease. The addition is intended to help around 310 Australians annually who struggle with eye inflammation and vision loss linked to thyroid conditions.
The country has also broadened subsidised access to Adcetris, a drug used to treat classical Hodgkin lymphoma. Adcetris will now serve as a first‑line treatment for patients with advanced CD30‑positive disease. The move is expected to benefit an estimated 370 Australians each year, according to the government.
While the primary focus of the PSI changes is Cystic Fibrosis, Thyroid eye disease and Hodgkin lymphoma, the PBS listing for Repatha—a medication used to treat high cholesterol—has also been amended. The revision expands the amount that eligible patients can obtain under the government’s 60‑day prescription initiative, which aims to reduce stock‑out interruptions for patients who require larger supplies. Under the new arrangement, patients will pay a maximum of 25 Australian dollars per prescription, or 7.70 Australian dollars for concession card holders.
Program Details
The child‑friendly Trikafta granules will be priced the same as the tablet version, but the subsidies rendered through PBS will reduce the out‑of‑pocket cost under the scheme’s standard calculation. Patients who meet the weight and age criteria will receive the drug at a subsidised rate of 25 dollars per prescription if they are not on a concession card, or 7.70 dollars if they are.
Tepezza, which had previously been reimbursed under a special drug subsidy, will now enter the PBS as a general listing for thyroid eye disease, meaning that eligibility will be determined by doctors according to standard guidelines and patients will pay the same PBS subsidy rate as other medicines.
Adcetris’ expanded PBS location will make the drug available as a first‑line therapy rather than only for second‑line treatment, potentially reducing the number of cases that require more painful and expensive therapies. The advanced medication will now be available to 370 new patients annually who otherwise would not have access or would have to pay large out‑of‑pocket costs.
Impact and Statistics
Australia’s government said that the new PBS changes could help about 3,280 people annually: 3,300 children with cystic fibrosis, 370 adults with Hodgkin lymphoma, and 310 patients with thyroid eye disease. The statements come from the Health Department’s official communication. The focus on these specific disease areas shows a targeted effort to reduce treatment barriers for patients who have lacked affordable access to high‑cost medicines.
Earlier this year, the government reported that it has approved 511 new and amended PBS listings since July 2022, indicating a broader shift toward covering life‑changing treatments. The latest expansion is part of a wider PBS initiative to bring pioneering therapies to patients who would otherwise face financial obstacles. The government said the changes will now provide subsidised medicine opportunities for thousands of Australians each year, particularly those suffering from severe chronic conditions or advanced cancer.
