New PBS listings for cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma – Amgen, AbbVie and AstraZeneca

Pharma News: There is new hope for thousands of Australians with cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and asthma with new and amended medicines listings on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May 2020.

Amgen

To help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, the Australian Government is expanding subsidised access to a breakthrough medicine that combats high cholesterol, with up to 30,000 Australians per year expected to benefit.

From 1 May, the PBS listing of Amgen’s Repatha (evolocumab) will be extended to include patients with certain types of high risk cardiovascular disease caused by high cholesterol. 

• Patients with non-familial hypercholesterolemia (abnormally high cholesterol) who have atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and meet certain conditions will now have access to Repatha.
• The listing of Repatha will also be extended to include more patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (genetic high cholesterol).

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in Australia. It is estimated cardiovascular disease kills one Australian every 12 minutes.

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AbbVie

Australians with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) will benefit from the listing of AbbVie’s Rinvoq (upadacitinib) on the PBS.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease affecting about 458,000 Australians.

Rinvoq will be a new treatment option for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis providing them with more choice in how they manage this painful condition.

Around 5,000 patients per year already access a comparable treatment, and may benefit from this new treatment option.

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AstraZeneca

Also from 1 May, Australians with uncontrolled severe asthma will now have access to Fasenra Pen.

AstraZeneca’s Fasenra (benralizumab) is currently listed on the PBS as a syringe for injection for the treatment of uncontrolled severe eosinophilic asthma.

This new pre‑filled pen will allow patients who choose to self‑administer Fasenra to be treated at home, rather than attend a clinic to access the medicine through a syringe injection administered by a health professional.

Over 1,000 patients per year access Fasenra through the PBS and may benefit from the listing of Fasenra Pen.