New PBS listing to bring hope for Australian breast cancer patients

Effective 1 January 2020, Australians living with advanced breast cancer have access to an important new treatment option listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Eli Lilly’s Verzenio (abemaciclib) is a CDK4/6 inhibitor indicated for the treatment of hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant as initial endocrine-based therapy, or following prior endocrine therapy. It is a new treatment option for approximately 3,000 Australian patients with this type of breast cancer.

Verzenio’s efficacy and safety in combination with anti-estrogen therapy were established in two large, multi-centre clinical trials – MONARCH 2 and
MONARCH 3.

Despite appropriate administration of adjuvant (or neoadjuvant) endocrine therapy, many patients with early HR+ breast cancer will eventually relapse. CDK4/6 inhibition in the adjuvant or neoadjuvant period provides a potential option for improvement in relapse rates among patients with early disease. New insights may be available from the neoMONARCH study (NCT02441946) and the monarchE study (NCT03155997).

Register FREE to receive the latest news, innovations and insights from Health Industry Hub; the only one-stop-hub connecting Australia’s Pharma, MedTech and Biotech industry professionals and its key stakeholders.

It is estimated more than 19,000 women and 160 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia in 2020. Australia has one of the highest survival rates for breast cancer in the world, with the five-year survival rate at almost 91 per cent.

You may also like Bidding farewell to a significant contributor in Australian Pharma

Differentiate your business, build thought leadership and boost your network by reaching the Australian Pharma, MedTech and Biotech industry professionals. Health Industry Hub offers unique media solutions to vendors and suppliers servicing the industry. Contact us.