Minister for Health Sussan Ley has approved a life-saving drug that will ensure adult Australian Pompe patients receive treatment that previously would have cost several hundred thousand dollars at no out-of-pocket cost. 

Ms Ley said the Abbott Government would commit close to $40 million over five years to list the drug Myozyme for patients over 18 years with late-onset Pompe disease through the Life Saving Drugs Programme (LSDP) from 1 September 2015.

“Pompe disease is a rare and severe medical condition, affecting only a very small number of Australians every year,” Ms Ley said.

“However, it is a very expensive treatment – costing several hundred thousand dollars – putting it out of reach for many Australians.

“This decision will improve the lives of adult patients with late-onset Pompe disease.”

The drug has been listed on the Life Saving Drugs Programme for children with the infantile-onset form of the disease since 2010 and since February 2015 for children aged two to 18 years.

For more details, go to: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2015-ley092.htm