PBS changes make life easier

The Federal Government has listed an easy-use version of an emergency medication people have been using off-label, and made the administration of two big name drugs more convenient for patients and health practitioners for some indications.

Clinect's Zyamis is now listed on the PBS to treat Generalised Convulsive Status Epilepticus(SE), after a 2022 PBAC recommendation stalled in negotiations. The company went back to the PBAC last November with some minor changes, which seems to have done the trick.

SE is a prolonged or continuous seizure lasting more than five minutes, or a cluster of repeated seizures without full recovery in-between. Until now people have been using midazolam hydrochloride ampoules off-label. Zyamis delivers midazolam in an oromucosal solution in a pre-filled syringe.