Minister for Health Sussan Ley has approved a life-saving drug that will ensure young Australian Pompe patients receive treatment they previously may not have been able to access. 

Ms Ley said she had approved the drug Myozyme for Government subsidy for children aged two to 18 through the Life Saving Drugs Programme (LSDP).

“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 change the lives of children with late-onset Pompe disease.

“This is only the first step. The Government is committed to continuing to work with the company towards a future application and subsidy for Myozyme on the PBS for adult late onset Pompe patients.” 

The drug has been listed on the LSDP for children with the infantile-onset form of the disease since 2010.

For more details, go to: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2015-ley010.htm