Australia's PBS Lists New Breast Cancer Treatment Option
核心洞察
Triptorelin 3.75 mg (Diphereline) will be listed on Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from 1 October for breast cancer (搜索), endometriosis (搜索) and uterine fibrosis (搜索).
The expanded unrestricted listing follows a July special meeting of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (搜索) and replaces the Zoladex 3.6 mg implant, delisted from 1 November.
About 13,580 Australians accessed Zoladex 3.6 mg implant or a comparable PBS treatment in 2025, and the subsidised triptorelin script cost falls from over $1370 to no more than $25.
Triptorelin 3.75 mg (Diphereline) will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from 1 October for the treatment of conditions including breast cancer (搜索), endometriosis (搜索) and uterine fibrosis (搜索). A special meeting of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (搜索) held in July recommended an expanded listing to unrestricted benefit, providing an alternative monthly treatment for women.
The listing is intended to address uncertainty around the Zoladex 3.6 mg implant, which is scheduled to be delisted from the PBS from 1 November at the request of its pharmaceutical sponsor. In 2025, about 13,580 Australians accessed the Zoladex 3.6 mg implant or a comparable treatment on the PBS. Without subsidy, patients could pay more than $1370 per script; under the PBS listing the cost is no more than $25 per script.
Health Minister Mark Butler said the government had worked with Breast Cancer Network Australia (搜索), which convened a roundtable, and invited sponsor Ipsen to apply to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (搜索) through an expedited process. Breast Cancer Network Australia policy director Vicki Durston said the monthly alternative provides certainty for women. Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White said women should be able to access needed medicines without cost being a barrier.