Life-prolonging drug for rare cancer sufferers to be made more affordable with PBS listing

A life-prolonging drug that targets a rare lung cancer will be available for no more than $40 a script from next year, following its listing on the PBS.

The “magical” drug can ­either stop or slow the growth of the rare lung cancer.

A life-prolonging medicine for sufferers of a rare lung cancer is to be made available for no more than $40 a script from next year.

Each year, just 50 to 60 Australians — typically younger people and non-smokers — are diagnosed with the advanced metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Until now, sufferers have had to fork out about $7000 a month for oral doses of the drug, Xalkori, which is also known as crizotinib.

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Melbourne woman Jenny Wu was given months to live two years ago before being treated with crizotinib.

Today, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt will announce the drug’s listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, drastically reducing the cost.

The broadening of the subsidy for Xalkori to lung cancer patients with a c-ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) gene rearrangement will see patients pay, at most, $40.30 per script.

Concessional patients such as pensioners will pay just $6.50 per script.

The “magical” drug can ­either stop or slow the growth of the cancer, extending life and avoiding the unpleasant side effects that can attend more invasive treatments.

Melbourne mother-of-two Jenny Wu, who was diagnosed two years ago with ROS1-­positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer, has been treated with crizotinib at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.

Until now, sufferers have had to fork out about $7000 a month for oral doses of the drug, Xalkori, which is also known as crizotinib.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has poured billions in to new medicines since taking the job. Picture: AAP

“When they diagnosed me, they said I may have only six to nine months to live,” she said.

“But crizotinib has really changed everything, and helped me keep fighting.

“I am so happy others will get access,” Ms Wu said.

The chief executive officer of Rare Cancers Australia, Richard Vines, said the government’s announcement of the PBS listing of the drug was “huge” and “long overdue news” for many Australians.

“We’ve had patients that have had great responses to this treatment over a long period of time,” Mr Vines said.

“It’s so effective.”

Mr Hunt said the government had decided to make the PBS listing following a recommendation by the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.

“Our strong economic management means we are providing Australian patients with access to lifesaving and life-changing medicines quicker than ever before,” the minister said.

“We are now making, on average, one new or amended PBS listing every single day.”

The Commonwealth last week announced a further $1.4 billion would be made available for new medicines.

Since 2013, about $10 billion has been invested in drug ­subsidies.

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