Thursday 7 May 2009
Government Announcement on Avastin and Bowel Cancer
The Federal Government has announced that the bowel cancer drug Avastin will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
This listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme of Avastin will not affect patients with Macular Degeneration.
Here are a few explanatory notes for further clarification:
- The listing of Avastin on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, announced by the Federal Government, is only for the treatment of bowel cancer.
- Avastin was designed and has been clinically trialled for the treatment of bowel cancer. Avastin has still not been clinically trialled for treatment for Macular Degeneration.
- The results of a clinical trial on Avastin being conducted by the National Eye Institute (US) are not expected to be released until 2010 -11.
- In Australia drugs that have been clinically trialled are then required to be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) before they can proceed to be considered for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listing.
- In Australia, Lucentis is presently the only anti-VEGF drug that has been clinically trialled for the treatment of Wet MD, approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration and listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Please Note:
For those specific patients who are not eligible for Lucentis and are being treated with Avastin a further explanation on the current status is provided.
Click here: Macular Degeneration Foundation - Changes to Medicare and Avastin rebates
To view the Federal Government announcement on Avastin:
Click here: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr09-nr-nr054.htm
For more information on the trial on Avastin being conducted by the National Eye Institute (US):
Click here: NEI Clinical Studies - CATT Study