New And Expanded PBS Listings For Breast And Prostate Cancer

Department of Health

Australians with prostate and breast cancer now have affordable access to affordable new and expanded medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Olaparib (Lynparza®) is being expanded to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Australia.

About 58 Australians are diagnosed every day with breast cancer. A staggering 1 in 7 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Over 10,000 Australians are estimated to be living with metastatic breast cancer.

HER2 negative metastatic breast cancer with a confirmed BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation is a type of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and is harder to treat due to genetic mutations.

As part of this PBS listing, the Government is also announcing germline BRCA testing will be reimbursed for all metastatic breast cancer patients who require the test to access PBS treatment. Previously, only some breast cancer types were eligible for testing.

This listing is expected to benefit around 300 patients each year. Without subsidy, olaparib would cost patients about $72,000 per course of treatment.

Talazoparib (Talzenna®) is being listed for the first time for use in combination with enzalutamide (Xtandi®), to treat patients with metastatic prostate cancer who have breast cancer gene BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body and is not responding to hormone therapy. BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations may make prostate cancer more aggressive.

This listing is expected to benefit around 180 patients each year. Without subsidy, talazoparib would cost patients about $101,000 per course of treatment.

The PBS listing of these medicines mean eligible patients will pay only a maximum of $31.60 per script, or just $7.70 with a concession card.

Both of these medicines belong to a group of anti-cancer medicines called PARP (poly-ADP ribose polymerase) inhibitors, which help destroy cancer cells that are not good at repairing DNA damage.

Since July 2022, the Australian Government has approved extra funding for 284 new and amended listings on the PBS as recommended by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

"By listing life changing medicines on the PBS, the Albanese Government is fulfilling its promise to deliver cheaper and faster access to the latest treatment for Australians.

"The risk of facing a cancer diagnosis is higher for people with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, as is the chance the cancer will be aggressive and harder to treat.

"These listings offer new hope of slowing the progression of such prostate and breast cancers. Giving patients and their families more time together."

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