From 1 August 2007, new medications will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for age-related vision loss, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, leukaemia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease high, cholesterol, abnormal menstrual bleeding, psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis, HIV and osteoporosis.

The progression of wet age-related macular degeneration will be slowed down or reversed for many patients by LUCENTIS® (ranibizumab) and VISUDYNE® (verteporfin), which are being added to the PBS at a cost of about $629.5 million over four years. About 11,500 people are expected to begin treatment with LUCENTIS in the first year.

More high cholesterol patients will benefit from treatment by subsidised EZETROL® (ezetimibe) and VYTORIN® (ezetimibe with simvastatin). The listings of these drugs will be extended. About 42,000 additional people will start using these treatments for high cholesterol over the next year, costing about $78.3 million to PBS over four years.

Women with breast cancer will be able to be treated with PBS-subsidised FEMARA® (letrozole), once they have completed tamoxifen treatment, benefiting about 4,800 patients over the next four years, at a cost of about $8.8 million.

Thyroid cancer treatment after the surgical removal of the thyroid will be improved by THYROGEN® (thyrotropin). This is to be listed at a cost of about $4.4 million over four years, benefiting an estimated 2,350 people.

A new drug for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia, SPRYCEL® (dasatinib), is being listed as an authority-required drug for patients not responding to treatment or unable to be treated with the drug imatinib - benefiting about 200 people a year, at a cost of about $12.5 million over four years.

Some asthmatics will now be able use SYMBICORT® (budesonide with eformoterol) as their only asthma inhaler, rather than having to use two different inhaler drugs, benefiting more than 73,000 people by 2011. This listing is expected to be cost neutral as SYMBICORT will substitute for existing treatments.

Around 110,000 patients with chronic obstructive airways disease will also benefit each year from the extended listing of SERETIDE® (fluticasone propionate with salmeterol xinofate) inhalers. This is expected to cost around $900,000 over fours years.

An alternative treatment to surgery (usually hysterectomy) for women who have menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods) will be available through MIRENA® (levongestrel intrauterine). MIRENA's extended listing will benefit around 34,000 women at a cost of about $12.8 million over four years.

People suffering from severe psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis will benefit from two new listings. The listing for leflunomide, which is marketed as ARABLOC® and ARAVA®, is being extended to enable it to be used for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. This may prevent many patients from needing the more expensive third-tier treatments. More than 17,000 patients are expected to benefit from treatment with leflunomide by the fourth year of listing. This listing could save the PBS up to $340 million over four years.

As well, MABTHERA® (rituximab) will be listed to provide doctors with a new treatment option for patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis who have failed to respond to other treatments. About 2,200 people are expected to use MABTHERA in combination with methotrexate over four years, at a cost of around $2.7 million.

APTIVUS® (tipranavir) is a new listing for the treatment of HIV. At present, treatment of HIV involves the long-term administration of at least three antiretroviral (ARV) medications combined. Currently there is a clinical need for new ARV medicines with different resistance profiles. APTIVUS meets that requirement and will benefit patients who are not responding to, or have resistance to, three different ARV combinations. About 2, 220 patients will benefit from this listing at a cost of around $6.7 million over four years.

An extended listing for ACTONEL® (risedronate sodium) will provide doctors a new treatment option for patients aged over 70 years who have osteoporosis. This listing should be cost-neutral, as ACTONEL is a substitute treatment for alendronate. About 120,000 patients are expected to be using ACTONEL in the fourth year of listing.

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