Ibrance on the PBS
Does anyone know any details about Ibrance (palbociclib) being put on the PBS? Will it be made available only to newly diagnosed women as well, not those that have had prior treatment? Cheers.
Forum Discussion
Thanks Anne94, that gives me some hope. I don't need it yet, thankfully, but when my current drug stops working, I think palbociclib or ribociclib is my next best bet. At least I think Ibrance is now capped at $40,000 (8 months worth) and then is free after that for those who are on second/later line treatment.
Now for a little rant - I'm not surprised that Ibrance is only on the PBS for first-line treatment at the moment, but it is frustrating that the government gives themselves a big pat on the back for listing it on the PBS in the budget, when it is only available to the women that already have access to ribociclib. It's not like this group of patients is accessing both ribociclib and palbociclib simultaneously... I'm not sure of the stats of women who respond to one of these inhibitors and not the other, but I imagine it would be a small portion. And if true, adding Ibrance to the PBS adds little extra value, and still ignores the large numbers of women who could definitely benefit from it and still cannot access it. Rant over.
Now for a little rant - I'm not surprised that Ibrance is only on the PBS for first-line treatment at the moment, but it is frustrating that the government gives themselves a big pat on the back for listing it on the PBS in the budget, when it is only available to the women that already have access to ribociclib. It's not like this group of patients is accessing both ribociclib and palbociclib simultaneously... I'm not sure of the stats of women who respond to one of these inhibitors and not the other, but I imagine it would be a small portion. And if true, adding Ibrance to the PBS adds little extra value, and still ignores the large numbers of women who could definitely benefit from it and still cannot access it. Rant over.