'Wonder drug' that could extend the life of cancer patients added to PBS
A drug that extends the life of some cancer patients is one of several treatments being added to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) from Monday.
Gary Floyd is one many Australians who suffer from cancer – but he counts himself lucky.
He has multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells, but thanks to a drug called Kyprolis, he’s feeling better than he has felt in a long time.
“I still take every day as it comes but I’m a more confident person than I have been in the past,” he told 7 News.
Kyprolis has previously been difficult for many patients to access due to the cost of the drug.
Mr Floyd was taking it through a trial, but now it’s about to go on the PBS.
“The average Australian can now have access to a drug that does make a difference to their life and can give them hope for the future,” Mr Floyd said.
Other life-changing medicines for patients who have cystic fibrosis and a type of lung cancer, will also be made more affordable, saving them hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the additions to the scheme would improve the quality of living for hundreds of thousands of patients.
“They will bring these new extraordinary drugs that are aiming to beat cancer into the reach of every Australian who needs them,” he said.
By listing medicines like these on the PBS, patients will only have to pay a maximum of $39.50 per script. Patients on concession pay only $6.40.
“In the past people with lung cancer had a life expectancy of which typically was less than one year but with drugs such as Alectinib we're seeing improvements in how long these patients live,” Professor Ben Solomon from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre told 7 News.
In some situations, this newly affordable treatment is the last option.
“This drug is a more effective drug which works when other drugs have stopped working and it can work in very difficult to treat situations,” Professor Solomon said.
