New PBS listings for acalabrutinib and venetoclax for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma will provide subsidised treatment to as many as 1,200 patients annually.

Health minister Mark Butler.

The expanded listings will bring the per script patient out of pocket charge for acalabrutinib down to $25, down from $7,000 per unsubsidised script.

Patients with CLL and SLL will be able to access acalabrutinib for initial and continuing treatment of first-line therapy. For cycles 3 to 14 of treatment, it must be used in combination with venetoclax but cannot be used in combination with obinutuzumab.

Minister for health and ageing, disability and the NDIS Mark Butler said on Monday the listings brought drugs that had been developed in clinical trials in Australia to patients at an affordable price.

“This will be an enormous life-changing benefit to we think as many as 1,200 patients every single year with these types of blood cancer and will be available to them at affordable PBS prices.”

Haematologist at Royal Adelaide Hospital, Dr Uwe Hahn, highlighted the benefits of acalabrutinib, sold as Calquence, and venetoclax (Venclexta) for this patient group.

“The treatment is so very effective, it is also safe, that can be administered to most of our patients and easily as it is in tablet base,” Dr Hahn said.

“That means that patients can spend more time at home and have fewer number of days than in hospital beds.”

Meanwhile, immunotherapy blinatumomab has also hit the PBS from June 1 for patients with relapsed or refractory B-precursor cell ALL.

The new listing dictates patients must previously received PBS-listed induction treatment with the drug, and achieved complete remission.

Minister Butler said for these patients that treatment would otherwise cost $230,000 per treatment course, but would now carry a general patient charge of $25.

The full list of changes to the PBS from June 1, 2026 can be read here.