Australian committee backs wider access to immunotherapy treatments

The PBAC proposed expanding the listing of nivolumab and ipilimumab on the PBS.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) has recommended expanding the listing of nivolumab (Opdivo®) and ipilimumab (Yervoy®) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) to cover a broader range of advanced and metastatic cancers.

The PBAC also proposed the expansion of these medicines for re-treatment of the same cancer and for longer use where a patient is likely to respond to it, according to the Australian Government.

In addition, the committee recommended removing the current “once in a lifetime” restriction for patients requiring treatment for more than one type of cancer, and extending access to those with rare cancers.

These drugs are currently listed on the PBS for specific cancers.