Let's get palbociclib on the PBS

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Comments

  • Glemmis
    Glemmis Member Posts: 343 ✭
    Hi @Cosette_BCNA, it is great news Palbociclib is available but not a lot of people could afford to buy it at that price. Do the committee give a reason for not putting it on the PBS? What chance is there of getting Kisqali approved? These drugs have been available in America for some time & they have just approved a combination therapy as well, I wonder why it takes so long here! Thanks for all your good work, it makes a huge difference!
  • brightspace
    brightspace Member Posts: 458 ✭
    Hi everyone apparently the mainreason given as per PBS website was that
    The drug co pzifer was lacking /incomplete two areas of its submission and these areas can be resubmitted for further review.One area was the economical costing .

  • Kathy_BCNA
    Kathy_BCNA Member Posts: 101 ✭
    edited May 2017

    @Glemmis thanks for your comment. This is Kathy from BCNA's Policy Team. While it is terrific that Ibrance (palbociclib) has been approved for use in Australia and is now available to buy here, you are absolutely correct that at nearly $5,000 per month it is much too expensive for many people. The PBAC, which reviews new drugs for the PBS, gave a number of reasons for not recommending it including concerns around neutropenia and that there is no overall survival data yet (because the trials are too young). As @brightspace says, the committee was also concerned about the cost to the health system. The full list of reasons is on the PBAC website. 

    Kisqali (ribociclib), another new drug which is similar to palbociclib, is being considered by the PBAC at its meeting in July. BCNA is putting in a submission in support of it.

    We are of course continuing to advocate for these new drugs to be subsidised by the Government so they are affordable to everyone. Our CEO Christine Nolan has a meeting with Health Minister Greg Hunt in Canberra next month and these drugs are at the top of her list to discuss with him.

    We'll keep you updated through the website.

    Kathy

  • traveltext
    traveltext Member Posts: 254 ✭
    Kathy, any chance that Ribociclb could be made available for early stage men? 
  • Giovanna_BCNA
    Giovanna_BCNA Member Posts: 1,838 ✭
    Hello @Kathy_BCNA see message from traveltext above
  • Lisa_BCNA
    Lisa_BCNA Staff Posts: 140 ✭


    Hi  @traveltex, unfortunately the
    PBS listing for ribociclib is for women only because there is not enough evidence that ribociclib is an effective treatment for men.
    The first line trials for ribociclib only recruited women.

    However, trials in later lines did include men. As the evidence
    emerges around benefit for men with breast cancer we will keep everyone updated. We will also continue to advocate for new drugs to treat breast cancer to be
    available on the PBS. The best advice is to talk to your
    medical oncologist about options for accessing the drug through compassionate
    access schemes or clinical trials.

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