Three new cancer drugs listed on the PBS
Therapies are now subsidised for refractory glioblastoma, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and neuroendocrine tumours
2nd August 2019
By Kemal Atlay
Three new treatments have been listed on the PBS for people with aggressive forms of cancer, including refractory glioblastoma.
Subsidies for bevacizumab (Avastin), dasatinib (Sprycel) and lanreotide (Somatuline Autogel) were announced by federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt last week and came into effect on 1 August.
The drug indications are:
- Bevacizumab for some 900 patients living with refractory gliobastoma;
- Dasatinib to treat newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which will benefit around 80 patients each year;