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New drugs listed on the PBS for rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis and ADHD


Doug Hendrie


4/09/2018 3:13:20 PM

Vital drugs for rheumatoid arthritis, cystic fibrosis and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will now be more accessible for patients.

The new PBS-listed drugs could help more than 170,000 Australians.
The new PBS-listed drugs could help more than 170,000 Australians.

Rheumatoid arthritis drug Olumiant (active ingredient: baricitinib) treats arthritis by blocking parts of the immune system involved in the painful autoimmune disease, which affects more than 400,000 Australians.
 
The drug is one of a new class of treatments named Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and is aimed at the 22,000 people with severe rheumatoid arthritis who get no benefit from existing therapies such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.
 
People aged over six years with the most common form of cystic fibrosis will be able to officially access government-subsidised Orkambi (lumacaftor/ivacaftor) from 1 October, with compassionate access granted by the drug’s manufacturer until then.
 
The drug previously cost a prohibitive $250,000 a year. 
 
The listing is expected to benefit around 1200 Australians who have two copies of the f508del mutation in the CFTR gene.  
 
For people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Intuviv (guanfacine) has been listed as a non-stimulant way of treating the disorder.
 
The Federal Government estimates around 147,000 people could benefit from the medication, which can help boost concentration and reduce hyperactivity. The drug is aimed at people aged 6–18 who cannot use other ADHD medicine.
 
For all three drugs, the cost will fall to a maximum of $39.50 per script or $6.40 concession.
 
Olumiant and Intivuv are now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
 
By law, the Government cannot list a new medication without a recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).



ADHD cystic fibrosis orkambi PBS listing rheumatoid arthritis


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Marlene Hardmeier   4/10/2018 5:33:46 PM

What is the name of new drug


newsGP   5/10/2018 9:07:46 AM

Hi Marlene. Thanks for your query. The crug is called Olumiant (active ingredient: baricitinib). Thank you.


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