A treatment that is already on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme will be expanded to help treat leukaemia.
Listed Venclexta is being expanded for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia for use in combination with azacitidine, which Health Minister Greg Hunt believes will give sufferers more treatment options and better outcomes.
"Around 340 Australian patients a year will benefit from this expanded listing, who without the PBS subsidy would pay more than $88,800 per course of treatment," Mr Hunt said in a statement on Sunday.
"From December 1, they'll pay $41.30 per script or $6.60 with a concession card."
In 2021, almost 5000 Australians were diagnosed with leukaemia.
In Australia, it is estimated that around 1100 people are diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia each year, which becomes more common with age and mostly occurs after 65.
