Making more life-changing medicines available to all Australians

The Australian government is listing almost half a billion dollars’ worth of new medicines, providing sufferers of both common and rare diseases access to life-changing drugs for as little as A$6.30 ($5.00) per script.

Without subsidy from the Turnbull Government, these medicines cost patients as much as A$115,000 per year. From September 1, patients will only pay a maximum of A$38.80 per script, or just A$6.30 if they are a concessional patient.

Stelara (ustekinumab) from Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) will be available for severe adult Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease which causes crippling pain and in many cases is a lifelong issue. This listing will help around 2,600 Australians each year who are living with the most severe type of Crohn’s disease, giving them treatment to help them live a normal life.

Like all new medicines being added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on Friday, Stelara will now be available to patients at $38.80 per script or A$6.30 for concession card holders. Stelara would otherwise cost patients over A$68,600 per year.

Zydelig (idelalisib) from Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) will also be made available to treat eligible patients with certain types of leukemia, including relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukaemia. It will also support patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. Without subsidy, Zydelig would cost A$60,500 a year for follicular lymphoma patients and A$115,800 a year for chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukemia patients.

The government is also subsidizing Somavert (pegvisomant) from Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) for patients suffering from acromegaly, a rare condition characterized by a consistently high level of circulating growth hormone. It can result in the enlargement of the jaw and extremities, and, over a prolonged period, may lead to patients suffering multiple health problems.

Since coming into government, the Coalition says it has helped improve the health of Australians by adding around A$7.5 billion worth of medicines to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Unlike Labor, it says that it is subsidizing all drugs recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Labor delayed the listing of seven vital drugs – which left important medicines out of reach for many Australian patients.