Just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you who sent letters to your ministers regarding CDK inhibitors and to those who encouraged others to write either by sharing our social media posts or posting your letters and responses on the network. Your efforts really did make a difference and we have finally seen an approval recommendation by the PBAC for these important new drugs.
Our work is not done yet though as we now need to put pressure on the pharmaceutical companies and government to reach a cost agreement quickly so that Ribociclib and Palbociclib can be placed on the PBS and therefore be more widely available for first-line treatment as soon as possible.
Once they are on the PBS for first-line treatment, we will advocate for Compassionate Access schemes to open up for those requiring the drugs for later line therapies. We know there are many women who could benefit from them who have had other lines of treatment and we want you to know we are fighting for you.
Danielle Spence, Director, Policy & Advocacy at BCNA,
advised ‘CDK inhibitors, when combined with a hormone therapy drug, don’t just
slow down the progression of the disease but can also provide a better quality
of life without the toxic side effects of chemo.
BCNA will therefore continue to lobby for
these drugs to be available to all who can benefit from these
therapies.’
We will therefore be asking you soon to write again to your politicians so watch this space!
