New biosim uptake drivers

The PBAC has "suggested" to Health Minister Greg Hunt the Department of Health develop a new set of uptake drivers for cancer medicines in recommending two Herceptin biosimilars in July.

In Public Summary Documents (PSDs) released on Friday, the PBAC called on the Minister to consider new measures to help increase the uptake of biosimilars for blockbuster cancer medicines, saying current drivers were not appropriate.

"The PBAC noted that the biosimilar uptake driver of applying a lower authority level to the biosimilar brand cannot be given effect for Efficient Funding of Chemotherapy Program (EFC) medicines," it said.