MS drugs delisting threat ends

The threat that two PBS drugs for MS could be delisted following a Government-requested price cut of 40 per cent has been averted with Health Minister Mark Butler announcing late last night that the medicines would continue to be reimbursed.

The two drugs - Roche's Ocrevus and Novartis' Kesimpta - are used to treat half the MS patients in Australia. The possibility of a delisting has caused a political headache for the Government for more than two weeks after Butler failed to use his ministerial powers to rule out a delisting.

While the Minister repeatedly said he wanted the drugs to remain on the PBS, the drama dragged while he referred the matter to the PBAC which considered the proposed price cut at its July meeting last week.