Patients with erythrodermic cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) will gain access to methoxsalen (Uvadex) on the PBS from 1 November as part of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP).

The PBS listing covers treatment unresponsive patients with the rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin and causes an accumulation of malignant T-cells in the skin, resulting in raised, rash-like or itchy patches of skin, skin lumps or ulcers and swollen lymph nodes.

The listing was recommended by the PBAC in May, after its review concluded that that ECP involving methoxsalen provides a significant reduction in toxicity for some patients over comparators such as methotrexate, interferon alfa, vorinostat, and brentuximab vedotin.

The PBS listing will enable about 75 patients a year to access methoxsalen, delivered as part of  an ECP service for the treatment of refractory erythrodermic stage III-IVa T4 M0 cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), either as monotherapy or in combination with peginterferon alfa-2a.

At the same time, two new MBS items will be introduced to cover the use of ECP in combination with methoxsalen, as recommended by the Medical Services Advisory Committee.