‘Heartbreaking’ barriers eased with earlier access to Merck’s IVF drug

Starting from April 1, women experiencing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) deficiency will gain earlier access to Merck’s ovarian stimulation injection, Pergoveris (follitropin alfa / lutropin alfa), through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

This move follows the Labor government’s recent commitment of $573 million towards women’s health as part of the pre-election pledge.

Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health, emphasised the impact of this PBS listing, saying “For some women one of their greatest dreams is becoming a mother, and to face the double burden of fertility issues and financial barriers to IVF can be heartbreaking. We want to change that.”

As part of the announcement, the government will reimburse double the number of Pergoveris pens per prescription (four instead of two) for approximately 6,000 eligible women. This change reduces patient co-payments, covering up to four pens per IVF cycle, and extending therapy duration from 12 to 24 days.

Dr Paul Atkinson, National Medical Director & Fertility Specialist at Adora Fertility, said “This PBS change will provide greater access, convenience and affordability for patients going through the IVF process. Fertility specialists have long advocated for changes to remove barriers and make it easier for patients along their fertility journey. The announcement is a big win for Australians impacted by fertility issues.”

He added, “Our patients will now be able to access Pergoveris from the get-go, rather than having to first go through the anguish of multiple cycles. More cycles mean more time, and for women up against their biological clock this adds another challenge to the IVF process.”

Last year, a landmark review by the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) found more than 40 different Commonwealth and State laws currently govern fertility care practices across the country.

The review, co-authored by former federal health minister Professor Greg Hunt and embryologist Dr Rachel Swift, issued 34 recommendations under a 10-year National Fertility Roadmap to improve the governance, safety and efficacy, access, affordability, and research into reproductive treatments.

Australia is facing a fertility crisis. In 2023, registered births in Australia dropped to 286,998 – a 4.6% decline from 2022 and 9% decrease since the peak of 315,147 in 2018. This declining fertility rate is associated with both a decreased overall birth rate and the median age of the mother increasing from 25.4 in 1971 to 31.9 in 2022.

While Medicare rebates support ART (assisted reproductive technology) treatments, significant out-of-pocket expenses persist, averaging up to $10,000 per treatment cycle for many families.

FSANZ President Dr Petra Wale emphasised, “The cost of assisted reproduction remains a major barrier for many families, particularly amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The FSANZ 10-Year Fertility Roadmap underscores the urgent need to improve affordability and access to IVF. Fewer financial and logistical hurdles mean more families can focus on what truly matters – having a baby.”

Josie Downey, General Manager and Managing Director of Merck Healthcare ANZ, stated “We listened and acted on feedback from fertility specialists and worked collaboratively with the Federal Government to reduce access barriers to Pergoveris on the PBS.

“Merck thanks the many clinicians who advocated on behalf of their patients. We know every fertility journey is an intensely personal one.”

Australia now has over 300,000 children that have been born through IVF and this is increasing by over 20,000 new lives being brought into the world each year. Evolving social needs and advancing health technologies mean that the number of healthy babies is likely to increase significantly in the next 10 years.

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