The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has made recommendations to subsidise treatments through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for conditions including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and asthma.
These recommendations were made following the committee’s November 2019 meeting in relation to treatments including Atezolizuma, Brigatinib, Durvalumab, Loratinib, Budesonide and Formoterol, and Salbutamol.
Lung Foundation Australia makes submissions to the PBAC and is proud to work with the pharmaceutical sector to advocate for timely access to new medicines for those impacted by lung disease. We commend the government for its work but urge it to work harder to improve the process between recommendation, approval and access to treatments.
To read the full recommendations made by the PBAC, click here.
Have your say
At the March 2020 PBAC meeting, new listings or changes to current listings for lung cancer and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) treatments will be considered. As part of the PBAC process, patients, carers, community members and health professionals are invited to make submissions in relation to the agenda items.
The consumer voice is very important in this decision-making process, particularly those who have been part of a clinical trial for one of the treatments being discussed. Patients, families and carers can help decision makers understand the impact that lung cancer or IPF has and can assist the PBAC in their considerations.
Consumer comments are being accepted in relation to the following treatments:
- Atezolizumab (Tecentriq®) – To request listing of an additional vial size for the treatment of patients with extensive stage SCLC and to amend the recommended dosing regimens of atezolizumab for SCLC to allow clinician choice of either 1,200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W) or 1,680 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W) dosing.
- Entrectinib (Rozlytrek®) – To request an Authority Required listing for the treatment of patients with locally advanced (Stage IIIB) or metastatic (Stage IV) c-ros proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1)-positive NSCLC.
- Pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) – To request amending the recommended dosing regimens of pembrolizumab for NSCLC to allow clinician choice of either 200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W) or 400 mg every 6 weeks (Q6W) dosing.
- Nintedanib (Ofev) and Pirfenidone (Esbriet®) – To compare the predicted and actual utilisation of nintedanib and pirfenidone for the treatment of IPF since PBS listing.
To view the March 2020 PBAC meeting agenda, click here.
For more information on how to make a submission, see the PBAC guide here.
To make a submission, click here.
Submissions to the PBAC close on Wednesday 12 February and can be made online, via email or post.