Keytruda Recommended For Subsidy On PBS Good News For Breast Cancer Sufferers

Australia’s leading voice for people affected by breast cancer, Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) has welcomed the decision to recommend a crucial drug to treat early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) for a government subsidy.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) announced last week that Keytruda (pembrolizumab) would be recommended for subsidy on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for early-stage TNBC.

Keytruda is a type of immunotherapy that blocks proteins that stop the immune system from attacking cancer cells, reducing the risk of the cancer returning.

It is one of the first shown to be effective for early-stage TNBC, and when combined with chemotherapy following surgery can significantly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence when compared to chemotherapy alone.

Around 15 per cent of breast cancer diagnoses are triple negative, which equates to around 3,000 new cases in Australia each year.

BCNA Director Policy, Advocacy and Support Services, Vicki Durston said the PBAC’s decision to also recommend Keytruda for high-risk early-stage breast cancer was good news.

“Triple negative breast cancer is typically more aggressive, has fewer treatment options, and disproportionately affects younger women,” Ms Durston said.

“We know that as many as 40 per cent of those with triple-negative breast cancer will have a recurrence.

“New treatments like Keytruda that reduce this risk are vital at improving outcomes for those who have one of the rarer forms of breast cancer.”

BCNA has declared it will continue to work with the pharmaceutical company and government to ensure Keytruda is listed on the PBS as soon as possible because every person should be able to afford to access the lifesaving and life-extending medication.

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