Bayer’s Xarelto (rivaroxaban) was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in combination with aspirin, for the prevention of major cardiovascular events in high-risk patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or peripheral artery disease (PAD).
Bayer says Xarelto is the first non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) to be listed for this patient population.
“Bayer is committed to partnering with Australia’s medical, research and patient communities to tackle the burden of CVD.
“Innovating to expand treatment options and securing access to new treatments in Australia is a priority, and a strategy we’ll continue moving forward.
“We’re extremely pleased to welcome this new PBS listing and its potential to improve outcomes for eligible Australian patients,” says Ashraf Al-Ouf, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Australia & New Zealand General Manager.
AbbVie also welcomed the Government’s announcement that Venclexta (venetoclax) in combination with obinutuzumab is now available to eligible Australians with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) as a first line therapy via the PBS.
According to AbbVie this PBS listing will allow CLL patients who cannot be treated with standard chemotherapy-based treatments to have affordable access to this first line combination treatment.
“We are proud that from today [1 December] eligible Australians with CLL will have reimbursed access to Venclexta earlier in their treatment cycle.
“Its listing reflects a change towards earlier use of targeted medicines in the treatment of CLL. We hope this paves the way for continued innovation of first-line therapies, not only in blood cancer but for other types of cancer,” says Chris Stemple, General Manager at AbbVie Australia.
“Historically, chemotherapy has been the most common starting point to treat blood cancer, but unfortunately there are several patients that are unfit or can’t tolerate these agents due to side effects.
“Expanding the list of available treatments, especially targeted therapies, is now the focus area for healthcare.
“The Government’s commitment to improve access to innovative medicines means clinicians can now explore a range of options for patients,” says Professor Stephen Opat, Director of Clinical Haematology at Monash Health Haematology.
Venclexta was developed as part of a research collaboration between AbbVie, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group of Companies, and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia.
