Posted by Michael Wonder on 17 Mar 2017
Cystic fibrosis advocates push for affordable access to Orkambi only drug available in Australia
17 March 2017 - Cystic fibrosis patients should be given immediate and free access to the only drug available in Australia to treat the underlying cause, and the Government can negotiate the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) price later, advocates say.
They want a reimbursement agreement to be adopted in Australia where drug manufacturers are only paid for medicines if further trials prove they work.
To date, Orkambi is the only drug available in Australia to treat the underlying cause of the F508del mutation — the most common strain of the disease.
However, cystic fibrosis patients and their carers are currently forced to pay up to $250,000 per year for it because it is not included on the PBS.
