A new treatment for growth hormone deficiency and a once-daily insulin product will be available to Australian patients via the PBS from this month.
July listings include the addition of somapacitan, which will be subsidised for paediatric GHD and is expected to be accessed by 650 children each year.
Somapacitan, sold under the brand name Sogroya, will be subsidised as an initial treatment for short stature associated with biochemical growth hormone deficiency. Patients must have evidence of biochemical growth hormone deficiency according to one of five sets of clinical test criteria, have a height at or below the first percentile for age or sex, and must not have a condition with a known risk of malignancy.
Patients accessing the drug as part of continuing treatment must hit clinical criteria including 50th percentile growth velocity for bone age plus sex following their recent treatment, and achieving an increase in height standard deviation score since the most recent supply.
Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler said without the listing, patients would be out of pocket $650 per pack.
Meanwhile, insulin degludec, sold as Tresiba Penfill, will be listed from July 1 for patients with T1D.
The ultra-long acting, once-daily basal insulin injection will be available for patients from the age of one. Diabetes Australia group CEO Justine Cain said the addition would reduce the cost burden and help with treatment management.
“This listing will support healthcare professionals to individualise basal insulin therapy based on a person’s clinical needs, preferences and lifestyle,” she said.
Minister Butler said 14,000 Australian patients accessed similar treatments in 2025 at a cost of $500 per pack.
The two endocrinology treatments were among 10 new PBS listings for July. Read the full summary of changes for the month on the PBS website [link here].