PBAC greenlights new drugs

Out of 26 new PBS listing submissions considered by the PBAC in March, a massive 23 submissions were recommended while one was deferred and only two were knocked back.

Swedish Orphan Biovitrum’s diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treatment Zynlonta and Amgen’s extensive-stage small cell lung cancer treatment Imdelltra were both knocked back while BioMarin’s Palynziq for phenylketonuria was deferred. All three drugs are yet to appear on the scheme.

Although the remaining new PBS listing submissions were given the go-ahead, Eli Lilly was quick to announce it will not pursue a PBS listing for Mounjaro which was recommended for adults with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes, after failing to secure a viable price for the blockbuster drug.