Treatment for superior melanoma is about to turn into cheaper underneath the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) within the coming weeks.
Health Minister Mark Butler introduced at this time that sufferers aged over 12 and residing with recurrent or metastatic melanoma can be reimbursed for Opdualag (nivolumab, relatlimab).
The remedy is a mix of immunotherapies utilized in sufferers with superior melanoma.
About 940 sufferers are set to learn from the subsidy when the remedy is listed on the PBS firstly of subsequent month.
“With cheaper medicines we are supporting millions of Australians with chronic, ongoing conditions so they don’t have to choose between health care and paying the bills,” Butler mentioned.
“The listing of opdualag will be life-changing for Australians living with advanced-stage melanoma.
“Instead of paying over $315,000 for remedy now the utmost they’ll pay is PBS costs.”
The founder and CEO of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Advocacy Network (MSCAN), Tamara Dawson, has welcomed the move.
“While nice progress has been made within the remedy of superior melanoma, we want extra ‘instruments within the toolbox’,” Dawson said.
“The reimbursement of this new mixture immunotherapy offers an extra remedy possibility for individuals residing with superior melanoma, permitting them improved entry to medication after they want it most.”
Co-medical director of Melanoma Institute Australia, professor Georgina Long AO, said advanced melanoma treatments needed to become accessible.
“Australians usually tend to develop melanoma of the pores and skin due to the excessive ranges of UV radiation attributable to our sunny local weather,” said Long.
“While prevention is paramount in decreasing the incidence of melanoma, those that develop superior or metastatic melanoma ought to have entry to all therapies which have demonstrated profit in strong scientific trials.”
Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world with more than 17,700 people estimated to have been diagnosed in 2022 alone, according to the Melanoma Institute.
The disease is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in young Australians aged between 20 and 39 years old.
In 2022, melanoma was related to 1281 deaths in Australia.
Source: www.9news.com.au
