Federal Budget 2021: Migraine treatment Emgality added to PBS
A preventative migraine treatment costing $6800 a year will be available to everyone after being subsidised in the Federal Budget.
National
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Australians who suffer chronic migraines will benefit form a breakthrough new preventive treatment subsidised in last night’s budget.
Emgality is one of a new class of CGRP migraine drugs that can help prevent chronic migraines — and will now cost just over $41 a month, down from $6800 a year.
Five million Australians suffer from migraines, more people than have asthma or diabetes or cancer.
The condition is so poorly managed one in 10 patients go on to develop medication overuse headaches, their condition becomes chronic and they suffer migraines more than 15 days per month.
The World Health Organisation ranked migraines as the second largest cause of disability in the world in 2016.
Migraine sufferers have been eagerly awaiting the subsidy for the drug — through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) — which works to block migraines from developing. It is widely funded overseas.
One pharmaceutical company withdrew its bid for a subsidy for a similar drug several years ago as the government tried to make it share a funding cap with Botox which is already oversubscribed.
Migraine is more than just a headache and patients may experience nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity, have speech problems and cognition issues for up to 72 hours and afterwards can feel tired, weak and cognitively impaired for days.
Its been estimated to cost the economy $16 billion a year in lost working hours.
Emgality is one of several new medicines funded in the budget.
The government previously announced funding for ADHD drug Vyvanse.
More than 1600 breast cancer patients will benefit from a subsidy for the combination breast cancer treatment Kisqali with Fulvestrant which cost more than $50,000 before the subsidy.
Around 3600 Australian patients with severe atopic dermatitis will see their $22,800 per year bill for medication Dupixent slashed.
Nearly 12,000 people with Type 2 diabetes will no longer have to pay $1700 a year for the treatment Tulicity.
Originally published as Federal Budget 2021: Migraine treatment Emgality added to PBS
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