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Minister trumpets more listings
Posted 28 May 2018
The role of the PBS in electioneering is becoming clearer as Health Minister Greg Hunt tandems between ananouncing new listings and attacking Labor's PBS record.
The minister announced yesterday (Sunday) that GSK's Trelegy Ellipta would be listed for COPD from June 1.
"More than half a million Australians with severe breathing difficulties from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are set for a boost with the listing of a new medicine which significantly improves their lung capacity," Hunt said.
In keeping with his established approach to listings announcements, the minister noted: "Instead of paying $1,200 per year, the listing will now mean patients will pay a maximum of $39.50 per script or just $6.40 per script for concessional patients, including older Australians, who make up the bulk of the patient group."
But, although the saving to patients looks impressive, according to the public summary document for Trelegy, GSK estimated it would cost less than $10 million in the first six years of listing in the context of a cost-minimisation analysis.
None-the-less, after the DUSC cast some doubt on this figure, saying it believed there was potential for market growth among triple therapies for COPD, the reimbursement committee called for a risk-sharing agreement.
Pressing home the political point, Hunt said: "The Turnbull government's commitment to list life-saving and life-changing medicines is rock-solid and we will continue to provide more and more medicines to patients. This is in stark contrast to Labor's approach. He claimed the government was "now listing one drug every single day".
Also mentioned by the minister among PBS listings for June 1 were Eli Lilly's weekly injection for type 2 diabetes, Trulicity, which he said would "save patients around $1,700 per year" and Ipsen's Cabometyx for second line in Stage IV clear cell variant renal cell carcinoma, which, he said, without subsidy "would cost patients around $129,800 a year".
Trulicity is expected to cost the government $20 million to $30 million over the first six years of listing and Cabometyx was estimated by Ipsen at less than $10 million over the same period although the PBAC was uncertain of this figure.
Janssen's Simponi is also set for a PBS listing boost on June 1. "Simponi will be listed for patients suffering from ulcerative colitis, saving them around $15,800 per year. This provides another treatment option for Australians with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, administered every four weeks to help manage the debilitating symptoms of the disease," the minister said. Simponi for ulcerative colitis is expected to cost less than $10 million in year five of listing.
Hunt reiterated the government's commitment to "listing all new medicines recommendation by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee", noting that Labor had "delayed the listing of seven vital drugs" when in government.
Nick Lush
Posted 28 May 2018
The role of the PBS in electioneering is becoming clearer as Health Minister Greg Hunt tandems between ananouncing new listings and attacking Labor's PBS record.
The minister announced yesterday (Sunday) that GSK's Trelegy Ellipta would be listed for COPD from June 1.
"More than half a million Australians with severe breathing difficulties from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are set for a boost with the listing of a new medicine which significantly improves their lung capacity," Hunt said.
In keeping with his established approach to listings announcements, the minister noted: "Instead of paying $1,200 per year, the listing will now mean patients will pay a maximum of $39.50 per script or just $6.40 per script for concessional patients, including older Australians, who make up the bulk of the patient group."
But, although the saving to patients looks impressive, according to the public summary document for Trelegy, GSK estimated it would cost less than $10 million in the first six years of listing in the context of a cost-minimisation analysis.
None-the-less, after the DUSC cast some doubt on this figure, saying it believed there was potential for market growth among triple therapies for COPD, the reimbursement committee called for a risk-sharing agreement.
Pressing home the political point, Hunt said: "The Turnbull government's commitment to list life-saving and life-changing medicines is rock-solid and we will continue to provide more and more medicines to patients. This is in stark contrast to Labor's approach. He claimed the government was "now listing one drug every single day".
Also mentioned by the minister among PBS listings for June 1 were Eli Lilly's weekly injection for type 2 diabetes, Trulicity, which he said would "save patients around $1,700 per year" and Ipsen's Cabometyx for second line in Stage IV clear cell variant renal cell carcinoma, which, he said, without subsidy "would cost patients around $129,800 a year".
Trulicity is expected to cost the government $20 million to $30 million over the first six years of listing and Cabometyx was estimated by Ipsen at less than $10 million over the same period although the PBAC was uncertain of this figure.
Janssen's Simponi is also set for a PBS listing boost on June 1. "Simponi will be listed for patients suffering from ulcerative colitis, saving them around $15,800 per year. This provides another treatment option for Australians with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis, administered every four weeks to help manage the debilitating symptoms of the disease," the minister said. Simponi for ulcerative colitis is expected to cost less than $10 million in year five of listing.
Hunt reiterated the government's commitment to "listing all new medicines recommendation by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee", noting that Labor had "delayed the listing of seven vital drugs" when in government.
Nick Lush
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