Australian Government expand PBS listing of pembrolizumab for adjuvant treatment of melanoma

September 11, 2020

The Australian Government is expanding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing of pembrolizumab for the treatment of melanoma.

Pembrolizumab will now be available through the PBS as adjuvant treatment for patients who have had completely surgically resected Stage IIIB, IIIC or IIID malignant melanoma, which means it will be provided as a treatment in addition to surgery.

In addition, this extension will also allow for the use of pembrolizumab as a first line treatment of BRAF V600 positive stage III or IV unresectable or metastatic melanoma, or melanoma that has spread through the body and has a specific biomarker.

Up to 850 patients each year might benefit from these expanded melanoma listings. Pembrolizumab might otherwise cost more than $100,000 per course of treatment without subsidies through the PBS for this condition. 

For more information, see the press release here.