Keytruda expanded further on PBS

For Angelo Favrin, who was diagnosed with cancer nine years ago, he says a doctor’s suggestion to try immunotherapy is the reason he’s still alive today.
 
‘He got me in as the guinea pig, I suppose, and that worked. Two years and I’ve been free since then,’ he said.
 
‘Deep down, I knew it was going to get better. I never panic. I never sorrow. But it would have cost me about, for two years, $370,000.
 
‘It’s cheaper to buy a coffin. I wouldn’t have that kind of money to get the treatment done.’
 
Now, a ‘groundbreaking’ announcement is making such treatments accessible for thousands of Australians.
 
From 1 September, pembrolizumab (sold as Keytruda) will be expanded on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), becoming a multi-cancer listing for those living with advanced and high-risk cancers.

Keytruda has already been listed on the PBS for 17 cancer indications, but as of Tuesday, can be prescribed for advanced cholangiocarcinoma, ovarian cancer, and Merkel cell carcinoma.
 
Separately, Keytruda has also been newly listed in combination with the drug enfortumab vedotin (sold as Padcev) for the treatment of patients with stage 3 or 4 urothelial cancer.

Oncologist Associate Professor Amitesh Roy said immunotherapies like Keytruda have ‘revolutionised’ cancer treatment.
 
‘Until recently, access to Keytruda on the PBS has been dependent on several assessments for different clinical communications,’ he said.
 
‘But with this listing now, clinicians like me would be able to use immunotherapy based on our clinical discretion, based on best clinical evidence out there, and also will be used in ways for treating patients who we think have immune-sensitive advanced cancers.
 
‘It is an important day. It is an important step in terms of improving access to our patients.’
 
On 1 April, Keytruda was expanded on the PBS to include high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer, renal cell carcinoma in patients at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following surgery, and locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
 
Combined, the expansions are expected to benefit more than 10,000 patients.
 
Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler labelled Keytruda ‘one of the most extraordinary drugs available in the country’.
 
‘This is a huge step forward in terms of equity in cancer care,’ he said.
 
‘This is another illustration of the beauty of our PBS, bringing the best medicines in the world, to Australia at affordable prices.’
 
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