Butler fails to rule out PBS delisting

Health Minister Mark Butler has failed to rule out a proposed savage 40 per cent price cut that could see two major drugs that treat almost half of Australian patients with MS pulled from the PBS - instead he's flicked the problem to the PBAC.

At an early morning doorstop in Canberra today, the Minister said he was "deeply concerned" that Roche's Ocrevus and Novartis' Kesimpta could be delisted. 

Under Australia's reference pricing policy the two drugs - which combined earned almost $375 million on the PBS - are facing massive price cuts after rival Briumvi, sponsored by newcomer Neuraxpharm, was listed on the PBS at a much lower price in January this year.