New treatments for chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes and COPD have been listed on the PBS.

From June 1, new medications to be subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme include:

• Triple-combination inhaler Trelegy for patients with moderate to severe obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients will pay a maximum $39.50 per script ($6.40 for concessional patients).
• Trulicity for patients with type 2 diabetes. The medication is injected on a weekly basis, in a single use, prefilled, auto-injector pen – this is the first time the PBS has listed pre-filled injectable diabetes medication.
• Simponi for patients with moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis, a treatment is administered every four weeks.
• Cabometyx, a new treatment for patients with Stage IV clear cell variant renal cell carcinoma who are not responding well to existing first-line treatments.  The subsidy will provide for around 500 patients a year who would have otherwise had to pay almost $130,000 a year for the medication, said Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.

“In the Budget we announced our commitment to invest $2.4 billion on new medicines to build on our commitment to guarantee those essential services that all Australians rely on,” Minister Hunt said.

This includes a new $1 billion provision to maintain our commitment to listing all new medicines recommendation by the PBAC.

“We are now listing one drug every single day. Only the Coalition can be trusted to deliver for Australian patients.”