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Parkinson’s and melanoma added to PBS
Medications for neuroblastoma, endometrial cancer and cystic fibrosis have also been listed or expanded on the scheme.
From 1 January 2026, patients will pay a maximum of $25 per PBS script.
Medicines for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, neuroblastoma, endometrial cancer, cystic fibrosis and melanoma are now all available under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
As of 1 August, foslevodopa with foscarbidopa (sold as Vyalev) has been listed for the first time to treat advanced Parkinson’s disease with severe disabling motor fluctuations not adequately controlled by oral therapy.
This addition will help around 330 Australians who are currently paying $131,000 for a year of treatment.
Nivolumab and ipilimumab (sold as opdivo and yervoy) are now listed to treat patients with stage three melanoma before surgery.
This listing is expected to help almost 400 Australians, with the cost before its listing being $31,000 for a course of treatment.
Durvalumab (sold as imfinzi) will be expanded to be used in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the treatment of deficient mismatch repair endometrial cancer.
Around 60 Australians each year are expected to benefit from this listing, which can cost more than $239,000 per course of treatment.
Eflornithine (sold as Ifinwil) has also been listed for the first time to prevent relapse in children with high-risk neuroblastoma who are in remission after other cancer therapies.
Twenty children are expected to benefit from this listing each year, with the cost of the medication dropping from its current price of more than $417,000 for a course of treatment.
Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler said the Federal Government remains committed to ‘making life-changing medicines cheaper for all Australians’.
‘These new and expanded medicines on the PBS will bring real relief to Australians who are facing severe health conditions,’ he said.
‘Instead of six figures, these medicines are available for $31.60 at the most.
‘This is part of our promise to give Australians early, affordable and safe access to breakthrough treatments.’
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cystic fibrosis endometrial cancer melanoma neuroblastoma Parkinson’s disease PBS Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
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