Pancreatic cancer breakthrough delayed by Australia's subsidy system

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 20:31 · Archive

An experimental pancreatic cancer treatment offers hope but Australia's lengthy drug subsidy process may prevent patients from accessing it in time.

An experimental pancreatic cancer treatment offers patients potentially extra months of life, but Australia's slow drug subsidy system threatens to leave them unable to access it. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme takes a median 22 months to get new medicines listed, a timeframe many pancreatic cancer patients do not have. Danielle Ozolins, a 50-year-old Sydney mother of two, was given nine to 12 months to live after a terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis. An experimental treatment has extended her life by another year, allowing her to celebrate family milestones she feared she would miss. She told AAP: 'We don't have two years. You know that drugs are available that could potentially give you a lot more time, but you cannot access them.'

Pancreatic cancer has historically been among the deadliest common cancers, with few treatment advances. The five-year survival rate is 14 per cent, with almost two-thirds of Australians diagnosed dying within 12 months and only 22 per cent surviving two years. A promising new class of drugs targeting the RAS pathway has raised hopes of significantly extending patients' lives. The RAS pathway is a system of signals telling cells when to grow and divide, but when faulty can drive cancer growth. More than 80 companies are developing treatments targeting this system, generating what researchers describe as extraordinary excitement about potential breakthroughs.

How it is being reported

• Cancer breakthrough offers hope but time is running outAn experimental pancreatic cancer treatment offers precious extra months but patients fear Australia's slow medicine subsidy system will leave them behind.Perth Now · 14 Nov, 20:03
• Cancer breakthrough offers hope but time is running outAn experimental pancreatic cancer treatment offers precious extra months but patients fear Australia's slow medicine subsidy system will leave them behind.The West Australian · 14 Nov, 20:02

In this story: Danielle Ozolins · Australia · Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme · Sydney

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log