The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has rejected a submission for the PBS-listing of ipilimumab (Yervoy) for malignant melanoma.
The committee ruled there was uncertainty over the extent of clinical benefit around the drug and of its place in clinical therapy.
It also cited “a high and uncertain cost-effectiveness ratio and uncertain financial costs”.
The PBAC has however, made positive recommendations to the Federal Government to list dasatinib (Sprycel) and nilotinib (Tasigna) for certain patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
It also recommended listing denosumab (Xgeva) for treatment of bone metastases from breast cancer and hormone resistant prostate cancer.
The recommendations, released online last Friday, come days after a Senate report called on the Government to reverse its cost-containing policy of deferring PBS drug listings.
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