Government funds new treatment for
rare heart and lung disease
Sydney, Australia, 31 January 2021 - Federal Government funding for an oral treatment for a rare heart and lung disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is being welcomed by medical experts, patients and the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.
From 1 February 2021, Uptravi® (selexipag) will become available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for Australians with PAH, and will be used in combination with an endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA) and/or phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE-5i).1,2
Approximately 420 Australian patients commence for the first time on treatments for PAH each year3, and a number of these patients will be eligible for treatment with Uptravi. Eligible patients will now pay $41.30 (general patients) or $6.60 (concessional patients) for each treatment.4
Given the current Australian population, it is estimated that up to 3,800 Australians have PAH yet approximately only 2,300 are diagnosed.3,5
People living with PAH often present with symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, chest discomfort or pain – non-specific symptoms that can be indicative of any number of medical conditions.6
Dr Helen Whitford, Respiratory Physician, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Lung Transplantation Service, The Alfred said, "By having Uptravi available on the PBS clinicians now have a more complete arsenal of treatments available to tackle this disease.
"Our overall treatment goal for people living with PAH is to keep overall disease risk as low as possible.7 This translates into better long-term outcomes for patients"8, she said.
Lung Foundation Australia CEO Mark Brooke said this PBS listing was another step towards more equitable access for patients to receive the best treatment for their lung disease.
"Living with PAH can mean difficulty carrying out day-to-day tasks, work, travel and social opportunities. This can have a major impact on patients' functioning and physical, psychological and social wellbeing 9".
Dr Sophie Glover-Koudounas, Executive Director, Medical and Scientific Affairs, Janssen Australia and New Zealand, said: "We are proud as a company to have achieved a listing for Uptravi on the PBS for this rare disease that can go undiagnosed for too long and is in an area of significant unmet need.
We commend the Federal Government's commitment to bringing about the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes for Australians living with a rare disease through its National Strategic Action Plan for Rare Disease10, with this listing being a tangible demonstration of this," she said.
About Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, chronic and debilitating disease, affecting up to 150 people per million population.1PAH causes the walls of the pulmonary artery to become thick and stiff, narrowing the space for blood to pass from the heart through to the lungs and increasing blood pressure.6 If left untreated, the disease progresses rapidly, leading to significant morbidity and mortality.11PAH is not a lifestyle disease. PAH can be genetically inherited or idiopathic (unknown cause). PAH can be associated with connective tissue diseases, liver disease, congenital heart defects, HIV infection and certain drugs.12
On average, it takes almost four years and up to eight doctors' visits for people living with PAH to be correctly diagnosed.13 A longer diagnosis and delayed treatment can potentially shorten life expectancy. The median survival time without treatment is 2.8 years.14
About Uptravi
Uptravi is an oral, selective, prostacyclin receptor agonist. It was first registered on 18 March 2016 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as monotherapy and as an add-on, oral therapy for PAH: idiopathic PAH; heritable PAH; PAH associated with connective tissue disease (CTD); congenital heart disease (CHD) with repaired shunts; and drugs and toxins; in patients with WHO functional class II, III or IV symptoms.15
All medicines may have side-effects. Uptravi may cause headache, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting, jaw pain, muscle pain, pain in extremity, reddening of the face, and aching joints. Other possible side effects may include wheezing, swelling of the lips/mouth/throat/face, difficulty in breathing or tightness in the throat, hives or rash, and fainting.15,16
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.
