Pancreatic cancer drug Abraxane will be listed on the PBS from November 1.

The Australian Government has committed over $92 million over four years to subsidise Abraxane on the PBS. 

Pancreatic cancer is highly aggressive with very few treatment options. 

Health Minister Peter Dutton said more than 1,500 patients would benefit each year from the PBS listing.

“This listing provides patients with a new treatment option that has demonstrated an increase in overall survival by around two months, compared to other treatments,” he said

Without the PBS listing of this medicine patients would face an average cost of $16,000 for a course of treatment, at an average cost of $1,300 per script. Once listed on the PBS that script will cost a concessional patient only $6.00. 

At an average cost of $16,000 per treatment it is easy to see why listings such as this have seen the cost of the PBS go up a staggering 80 per cent over the past decade. 

For more details, go to: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2014-dutton077.htm