A drug proven to extend the lives of people with inoperable and incurable breast cancer has been approved for listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) welcomes today's announcement by the Treasurer as part of the 2022-23 Federal Budget to list Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan) to the PBS for adults with inoperable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who have received two or more prior therapies.
Trodelvy® is an immune targeted therapy and has been shown to improve progression-free survival by an average of six months and overall survival by an average of 12 months.
BCNA's recent submission in support of Trodelvy® to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) highlighted that people with metastatic triple negative breast cancer have poorer clinical outcomes and fewer effective treatments available in Australia compared with other types of breast cancer.
Subsidy via the PBS will allow those who are eligible to access Trodelvy® without the significant financial burden of funding this treatment privately and is a big step towards improving equity of access to optimal cancer care.
BCNA's Director of Policy, Advocacy and Member Support, Vicki Durston, says PBS approval of Trodelvy® will provide much needed access, without the additional financial burden, for a life limiting illness.
"Metastatic triple negative breast cancer is more aggressive than other breast cancers and has poorer outcomes. Trodelvy® has the potential to give those with this disease precious extra time with those they love."
We will continue to be a voice for those with metastatic breast cancer and advocate for timely consideration of new treatments for subsidy on the PBS.
Anyone with questions about Trodelvy® should speak to their treatment team.
