Keytruda Now Cheaper for Hundreds of Australian Cancer Patients

Access to the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, known as Keytruda, is significantly expanding in Australia, with a new multi-cancer listing on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) commencing this week. This change is expected to benefit approximately 700 Australians annually by subsidising the drug for additional advanced cancers, including ovarian cancer, bile duct cancer, and Merkel cell carcinoma.

Eligible patients will now pay a maximum of $25 per prescription, a substantial reduction from the previous cost of around $14,800 without PBS subsidy. Keytruda functions by enabling the body's immune system to identify and combat cancer cells by blocking immune evasion pathways.

Furthermore, the PBS will now subsidise Keytruda in combination with enfortumab vedotin (Padcev) for advanced bladder cancer. Over 490 Australians per year are anticipated to benefit from this specific listing, lowering their script cost from up to $4800 to $25.

For patients like Jenelle Seaman, a 64-year-old teacher battling ovarian cancer for 16 years and eight recurrences, this expansion offers renewed hope. Similarly, Celestino Carosella, who was diagnosed with the rare adrenocortical carcinoma, found Keytruda through genomic testing after other treatments failed, highlighting the drug's critical role for ultra-rare cancers.

Health Minister Mark Butler stated that this expanded listing makes one of the world's leading cancer treatments more accessible and affordable for thousands of Australian patients. Associate Professor Sumitra Ananda emphasized that the change grants oncologists greater flexibility in making evidence-based decisions and alleviates financial burdens for patients with advanced or metastatic disease.