STA expands PBS listing for cancer drug

Specialised Therapeutics Australia has secured a PBS listing for its Abraxane treatment in metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Abraxane in combination with gemcitabine will be reimbursed via the scheme as of 1 November.

In March, the TGA approved the Abraxane-gemcitabine combination for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The PBS listing adds to this success.

Both approvals were based on the results of a phase III trial of the treatment combination published in October 2013.

During the trial, the combination significantly improved overall survival, progression-free survival and response rates compared to gemcitabine alone.

“Until now, Abraxane has been widely available and PBS reimbursed for patients with metastatic breast cancer, but not for those with metastatic pancreatic cancer, who have been shown to also gain substantial clinical benefit,” STA CEO Carlo Montagner commented.

“Abraxane will now be reimbursed and broadly accessible for Australian patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and offers a new standard of care for treatment of this disease.”

He noted that over 1000 patients with types of cancer other than metastatic breast cancer have been treated with the drug under the company’s Abraxane Access Program.

Pancreatic cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer mortality in Australia, accounting for 6% of all cancer deaths.