Who's won an October PBS listing... already?

The Federal Government is out of the blocks early, announcing the PBS listing of Biogen's Qalsody from October, for patients living with a rare genetic form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neuron disease (MND).

The treatment will be reimbursed for ALS patients who have a superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene pathogenic variant. Biogen won a PBAC recommendation in March this year, after a rejection last November.

"MND is one of the most devastating neurological diseases we encounter, affecting not only patients but entire families," Macquarie University Hospital, Head of Neurology and Consultant Neurologist Professor Dominic Rowe said.