About 150 Australians with a rare life threatening lung cancer have been given a major boost today, with the government listing a new drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. 

The Abbott Government will invest $60 million listing the drug crizotinib that would otherwise cost patients over $80,000 per treatment without taxpayer subsidies.

The drug has cleared all of the safety hurdles of the scheme but its effectiveness has not yet been proven.

Minister for Health Sussan Ley said placing crizotinib on the PBS was a sensible way to provide early access to new breakthrough drugs.

'There are very few effective therapeutic options available for patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer and this will be the first treatment available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that specifically targets patients with ALK gene rearrangement.' 

Crizotinib would be listed on the PBS from July 1 through a Managed Entry Scheme that would speed up access for patients with the highest need for treatment.

For more details, go to: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/05/31/government-puts-new-cancer-drug-on-pbs.html