MS Patients Avoid $33,000 Treatment Costs Under PBS Deal
Synopsis
The government has confirmed that major multiple sclerosis medicines will remain on the PBS, providing financial relief for thousands of Australians.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients on a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Ocrevus and Kesimpta treatment deal will continue to receive subsided treatment following an announcement by the federal government that Ocrevus, Kesimpta and Lemtrada will remain available on the PBS.
Health Minister Mark Butler made the decision after the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended that the medicines be rapidly reviewed by December.
The outcome provides immediate clarity to some 10,000 people reliant on the treatments and who would otherwise pay up to $33,000 a year for them if the government wasn't providing support through the PBS.
Review Follows Pricing Dispute
The entry of Briumvi onto the PBS placed it in the spotlight following review of another MS drug; the scheme will allow changes in what governments will repay medicines that are clinically similar, based on their price. Manufacturers of Ocrevus, Kesimpta and Lemtrada had voiced complaints regarding 40-50 per cent potential cuts that would put ongoing availability of the medicines on the PBS at risk.
The PBAC had proposed continued PBS funding for all three therapies, pending further pricing and clinical work being undertaken and following consultations with relevant parties.
Relief for Patients and the Health System
MS Australia says more than 33,300 Australians are living with MS, and an average of 3,000 people a year are newly diagnosed. High-efficacy treatments like Ocrevus and Kesimpta for relapsing MS forms of the condition are being used by around 10,000 PBS patients across Australia.
When taking Ocrevus and Kesimpta under the PBS, patients are paying at the government co-payment rate, rather than the commercial price of the drug. A maximum co-payment of $25 (or $7.70 for concession card holders) will apply from January 2026, vastly less than the cost of taking the drug without the PBS.
Australia's PBS system is considered one of the largest government-subsidised medicine systems in the world. Similar government reimburse systems exist across Canada, the UK and New Zealand, with price evaluation and clinical assessment prior to reimbursement varying between systems.
Mark Butler said that the government would proceed with the PBAC recommendations and accelerate decision-making to ensure Australians continue to have access to medically appropriate treatments for MS on the PBS.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
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