In July 2025, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) recommended three new medicines for treating lymphoma.
This is an important step towards making them available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which helps Australians access medicines at a much lower cost.
Why is this important?
New medicines may give more options for people living with lymphoma.
If PBS listing is approved, these treatments will be more affordable and more people may be able to use them.
At the moment, these medicines can be very expensive or only available in limited ways.
The 3 Medicines Recommended
| Medicine | How it works (in simple terms) | How it’s given | Common side effects* |
| Glofitamab (immunotherapy) | Helps the immune system find and attack lymphoma cells by “joining” them to T-cells (fighter cells). | Infusion into a vein | Fever, chills, tiredness, rash, muscle or bone pain, low white blood cells (infections), changes in heart rhythm, dizziness, shortness of breath. A serious reaction called Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) can also happen. |
| Acalabrutinib (targeted therapy) | Blocks a signal (BTK protein) that tells lymphoma cells to grow and multiply. | Tablet, taken daily | Headache, tiredness, unusual bleeding or bruising, joint or muscle pain, fevers, dizziness, changes in voice. |
| Brentuximab vedotin (antibody-drug conjugate) | Delivers chemotherapy directly to lymphoma cells. | Infusion into a vein | Tiredness, nausea, nerve pain/tingling, diarrhoea, rash, low blood counts, fever, infections. |
*This is not a full list. Always ask your doctor for complete information.
Who might benefit?
Glofitamab: People with relapsed or refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) who cannot have a stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy. Given with two chemotherapy medicines (gemcitabine and oxaliplatin).
Acalabrutinib: People with stage 3 or 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) who cannot have a stem cell transplant. Given with bendamustine and rituximab.
Brentuximab vedotin: People with advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma. Given with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine.
What happens next?
Getting a medicine onto the PBS is a step-by-step process:
PBAC review → Recommendation made – DONE
Next steps:
Government decision → Will the medicine be listed?
PBS listing → If approved, the medicine becomes available at a lower cost to patients.
This process may take several months or longer.
You can learn more about the process here Recommended outcome for a PBAC Submission | Medicine Status Website.
What this means for patients
These recommendations are good news, but the medicines are not yet available on PBS.
If PBS listing happens, more people will have affordable access.
Not every patient will be suitable for these medicines. Only your doctor can tell you if one may be right for you.
How Lymphoma Australia is helping
Lymphoma Australia plays an important role in this process. We advocate for patients by providing evidence and real patient stories to support applications made to the PBAC. This helps ensure your voices – the people living with lymphoma, are heard when new medicines are being considered. Our submissions and advocacy aim to make treatments more available, more affordable, and better suited to the needs of patients and families.
Where to find support
Your doctor or specialist – for personalised medical advice.
Lymphoma Australia website – lymphoma.org.au or call 1800 953 081
Important to know
This article is for information only.
It is not medical advice.
Please speak to your doctor about whether these treatments may be right for you.
