Boehringer Ingelheim secures PBS listing for earlier use of SGLT-2 inhibitor in diabetes

Boehringer Ingelheim’s SGLT-2 inhibitor is set to play a greater role in reducing cardiovascular risk for Australians with type 2 diabetes, following changes to its PBS listing. From 1 April, more than 115,000 additional Australians will gain earlier access to Jardiance (empagliflozin), expanding its use with metformin.

The updated listing allows Jardiance to be prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes who are at high cardiovascular risk, have existing cardiovascular disease, or identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander – regardless of their HbA1c level. This expansion brings it in line with AstraZeneca’s Forxiga (dapagliflozin), which secured the same PBS status in December last year.

Dr Ted Wu, Endocrinologist and Director of the Royal Prince Alfred (RPA) Hospital Diabetes Centre, emphasised the significance of the change, noting that it acknowledges “the sinister relationship between type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as the benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitor therapy beyond glucose lowering.”

“The use of Jardiance with metformin for patients with type 2 diabetes and high cardiovascular risk will help address many of the microvascular and macrovascular complications we see in this broad patient group,” Dr Wu said.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death for people with type 2 diabetes, with life expectancy reduced by as much as ten years compared to those without these conditions. Dr Wu stressed the need to shift treatment strategies beyond simply managing blood sugar levels.

“With type 2 diabetes, it’s no longer enough to simply treat to HbA1c target. We need to look at a patient’s full health profile and address risk factors across the cardio-renal-metabolic system,” he explained. “The good news is that we can now provide the same level of cardiovascular protection to patients with good glycaemic control as we have done for those with higher glucose levels.”

In Australia, approximately 1.3 million people live with type 2 diabetes, with up to 500,000 more undiagnosed. Among them, around 30% also have cardiovascular disease. The burden is even greater for First Nations Australians, who are 2.9 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and 2.4 times more likely to have cardiovascular disease than non-Indigenous Australians.

Dr Wu highlighted the importance of early intervention, saying “There is no reason to wait until they reach an HbA1c level greater than 7%.”

He added, “Jardiance was the first SGLT-2 inhibitor shown to provide significant cardioprotective benefits and remains the only medicine in this class indicated to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease.”

Welcoming the expanded PBS eligibility, General Manager of Boehringer Ingelheim Australia and New Zealand, Ed Hollywood, reinforced the urgency of managing cardiovascular risk in diabetes care.

“Managing cardiovascular risk is a critical element of diabetes care. Ultimately, the goal is to prevent cardiovascular events and deaths,” Hollywood said.

In related PBS news, Tafinlar (dabrafenib) in combination with Mekinist (trametinib) will be listed on the PBS effective 1 April for the treatment of paediatric patients with BRAF V600E mutation positive low-grade glioma (LGG) or high grade glioma (HGG).

Additionally, Omjjara (momelotinib) will be reimbursed for the treatment of intermediate or high-risk primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythaemia vera myelofibrosis or post-essential thrombocythaemia myelofibrosis in patients with moderate to severe anaemia.

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