Young Australians living with arthritis are among those set to benefit from the latest additions to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). A range of debilitating conditions, including juvenile arthritis, rare liver disease, and multiple sclerosis, have been added to the PBS to provide patients with greater access to affordable, essential medications.
Adalimumab, marketed as Humira®, will now be available to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis, expanding its use beyond other pediatric immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) for which it is already listed, such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and chronic plaque psoriasis. IMIDs cause painful inflammation in joints, the gut, or skin, potentially impairing growth and leading to long-term disability. These conditions often disrupt schooling and daily activities, placing a significant physical, emotional, and financial burden on families.
Impact of New PBS Listings
Humira works by calming the immune system and reducing inflammation, helping children regain mobility, participate in everyday activities, and enjoy a better quality of life. An estimated 18,500 to 30,100 Australians aged 0 to 24 are living with arthritis, highlighting the importance of this PBS expansion.
Health Minister Mark Butler emphasized the significance of these listings, stating,
“The medicines we’re listing are life-changing for people with distressing and even deadly conditions. Without the PBS, Australian patients would pay thousands of dollars instead of the newly reduced maximum of $25 per script, or just $7.70 for those who hold a concession card.”
The PBS is regarded as one of the most trusted government services in Australia, and the government is committed to strengthening it by adding the latest treatments recommended by experts.
New Treatments for Rare Diseases
Alongside Humira, other medicines added to the PBS include Odevixibat and Ublituximab. Odevixibat, known as Bylvay®, will be listed for the first time on the PBS for treating progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), a group of rare genetic liver diseases primarily seen in children but also occurring in adults. PFIC causes a build-up of bile acids in the liver, leading to severe itching, poor sleep, and progressive liver damage, sometimes requiring a transplant. Bylvay works by reducing bile acid levels in the gut, helping to relieve itching and improve the quality of life for affected patients and their families.
PFIC is estimated to affect between one per 50,000 and one per 100,000 live births globally. Without the PBS subsidy, families could face costs exceeding $200,000 per script, making the listing a critical financial relief.
Advancements in Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
Ublituximab, marketed as Briumvi®, will be listed for the first time for treating relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). RRMS is an autoimmune disease that damages the central nervous system, often leading to severe symptoms and long-term disability. It can profoundly affect a person’s mobility, vision, and independence. Briumvi targets the B-cells that drive inflammation in multiple sclerosis, helping reduce relapses, slow disease progression, and improve quality of life.
In 2024, more than 14,000 patients accessed a comparable treatment through the PBS. Without the subsidy, patients might pay $15,000 per script, underscoring the economic impact of this PBS inclusion.
The Role of PBS in Australia’s Healthcare System
The PBS is part of the Australian Government’s broader National Medicines Policy, which aims to meet medication and related service needs to achieve both optimal health outcomes and economic objectives. Under the scheme, the government subsidizes the cost of medicine for many medical conditions, with most of the listed medicines dispensed by pharmacists and used by patients at home.
The PBS began as a limited scheme in 1948, offering free medicines for pensioners and a list of 139 “life-saving and disease-preventing” medicines free of charge for others in the community. Today, there are more than 900 medicines listed on the PBS, covering over 5,000 different brands. The PBS Schedule lists all the medicines available to be dispensed to patients at a government-subsidized price and is part of the wider Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme managed by the Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing and administered by Services Australia.
These latest additions to the PBS not only provide critical financial relief to families but also underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring access to essential medications for all Australians, particularly those with rare and debilitating conditions.
