Oncologists and patients welcome PBS listing of Bayer’s advanced prostate cancer therapy

Pharma News: Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s (PCFA) Big Aussie BBQ at Parliament House coincided with the announcement of Bayer’s advanced prostate cancer treatment being listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Starting December 1st, men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) will gain subsidised access to Nubeqa (darolutamide), an oral androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi). This novel treatment marks a significant addition to the arsenal of therapies, forming a three-pronged approach used in conjunction with chemotherapy and hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy or ADT).

Dr Laurence Krieger, Medical Oncologist at Genesis Care, explained “Prostate cancer remains the second greatest cancer killer of Australian men. New treatment options are desperately needed.”

The ARASENS clinical trial involving 1,305 patients showcased Nubeqa’s efficacy when combined with ADT and docetaxel. This combination significantly reduced the risk of death by 32.5% compared to the standard ADT and chemotherapy regimen.

A post-hoc analysis of ARASENS indicated that the relative benefits in overall survival of Nubeqa versus placebo were generally consistent (and similar to that in the overall trial population) across disease volume and risk subgroups, including in patients with high-volume disease.

PCFA’s CEO, Anne Savage, emphasised the urgency of these advancements. She commented “Every year nearly 4,000 Australian men will be diagnosed with incurable Stage 3 or 4 prostate cancers. The listing of medicines such as Nubeqa for more men is an important development for thousands of Australian fathers and sons. However, we need to continue raising awareness so that all Australian men get a fair chance of detecting prostate cancer early, so that we can beat it. We are tremendously grateful to Health Minister Mark Butler for supporting men and families in our community with this new listing,”

Ashraf Al-Ouf, CEO of Bayer Australia and New Zealand Group, highlighted the profound impact of novel treatments on individuals battling prostate cancer.

“Timely access to additional treatment options could be a key moment for someone living with prostate cancer – potentially impacting their ability to live well alongside family and friends,” he stated.

In reimagining healthcare across the entire patient journey, Health Industry Hub^TM is the only one-stop-hub uniting the diversity of the Pharma, MedTech, Diagnostics & Biotech sectors to inspire meaningful change.

The Health Industry Hub^TM content is copyright protected. Access is available under individual user licenses. Please click here to subscribe and visit T&Cs here.