CDK Inhibitors approved by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) but cost is still an issue. See the link below for further informationhttps://www.bcna.org.au/news/2018/04/cdk-inhibitors-approved-by-pbac-but-costs-still-an-issue/

SO very pleased to hear and read the news, will be a game changer for those women who will soon be able to afford this drug ,just a bit sad that it looks like it will only be for those as a first line of treatment, and that I will not be able to access them, I will discuss with my oncologist when I see him next month, perhaps by then we will have a clearer picture of who can and who cannot have them.wendy55

I am on the compassionate access program for Ribociclib and it is at no cost to me until they decide on a price for the PBS, then , as I am on a disability pension I will pay $6.40 per script.

Hello all, Here is the response from our policy team. Thanks for your comments and questions about CDK inhibitor drugs. The proposed listing of the CDK inhibitors on the PBS is only for first line treatment at this time. BCNA is continuing to advocate for these drugs to be made available at a reasonable price for all who need it, including those who are using them, or might benefit from them, as a later line treatment. However @wendy55, it is a great idea to speak with your oncologist about what options are open to you. @leapfrog, the Ibrance (palbociclib) access program currently offered by Pfizer means that eligible women will be able to access Ibrance for a one-off cost of $50, paid at the pharmacy when the first script is filled. All scripts after that will be filled free of charge. Eligibility for the program will be similar to the proposed PBS listing – that is for people newly diagnosed with hormone receptor positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer, as a combination treatment with an aromatase inhibitor (anastrazole or letrizole). The government and the pharmaceutical companies are currently in negotiations on the cost of the drugs. It is a good idea to keep an eye on the BCNA website for updates – we will be posting there once we have an update. Some more information about the access programs is available on our website: https://www.bcna.org.au/news/2018/03/cdk-inhibitor-update/ . For more specific information, it is best to talk to your medical oncologist.

Mildly interesting - especially the last paragraph - that indirectly points to recycling of therapies in some patients.https://www.onclive.com/web-exclusives/cdk46-inhibition-refined-in-hr-breast-cancer-as-novel-combos-emerge?p=2

Many thanks for heads up on progress but we still have a long way to go as has been said in discussion.Good luck to the newly diagonised metters who will hopefuly benefit Bright in hope

CDK Inhibitors approved by PBAC 20 April 2018

brightspace
Member
7 years ago
Many thanks for heads up on progress but we still have a long way to go as has been said in discussion.
Good luck to the newly diagonised metters who will hopefuly benefit
Bright in hope
iserbrown
Member
7 years ago
Woo hoo! another step closer!
jennyss
Member
7 years ago
Great news @Giovanna_BCNA
KatyJoy
Member
7 years ago
Almost there! Well done everyone,
Kattykit
Member
7 years ago
That is great news
MoiraC
Member
7 years ago
Great news -now we need a reasonable price and soon. Thanks to BCNA and lots of others for advocacy on this.
SoldierCrab
Member
7 years ago
Awesome news
mum2jj
Member
7 years ago
Good news, that will hopefully become great news with cost being factored in for all to have access who need it.
wendy55
Member
7 years ago
SO very pleased to hear and read the news, will be a game changer for those women who will soon be able to afford this drug ,just a bit sad that it looks like it will only be for those as a first line of treatment, and that I will not be able to access them, I will discuss with my oncologist when I see him next month, perhaps by then we will have a clearer picture of who can and who cannot have them.

wendy55
Leapfrog
Member
7 years ago
I posted this on the General Discussion board by mistake. This would have been more appropriate.

Can someone tell me how the Palbociclib Access Program works? I'm asking out of interest for women who already have metastatic breast cancer and will be taking it for the rest of their life. It doesn't affect me personally as I'm on a trial and receive Palbociclib free. I'm curious about the eligibility. I believe newly diagnosed women will pay $50 upfront and then receive all scripts for free after that. Does this mean until the drug is listed on the PBS or for life? If newly diagnosed women can receive it for $50 for life, why would those who are already diagnosed have to pay for each script when it is listed? Or am I missing something?