Search
Close this search box.

News

A great way to start lymphoma month

September 1 is the start of lymphoma month and from today another 2 new medicines have been added to the PBS for lymphoma patients.

The Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt recently announced that from the 1st of September, eligible Australian patients with relapsed / refractory primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBCL) and relapsed / refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Small Lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) will have new treatment options available for them on the PBS.

PMBCL is a very rare subtype of lymphoma and patients will now be able to access Keytruda if they have relapsed on previous treatments or they were refractory to treatment. KEYTRUDA (Pembrolizumab) is an immunotherapy medicine that enables the body’s own immune system to fight the lymphoma.

Calquence (Acalabrutinib) will also be available on the PBS for eligible Australian patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma. These lymphoma subtypes are considered to be a chronic cancer as it never goes away but Calquence provides eligible patients with an additional treatment option.

Lymphoma Australia would like to thank all the patients and other members of the community who helped us by making a submission to PBAC so these new treatments became approved for all eligible patients.

For further information and media comment, please phone Lymphoma Australia CEO Sharon Winton on 0431 483 204.

Additional information:

Share This

Newsletter Sign Up

Contact Lymphoma Australia Today!

Please note: Lymphoma Australia staff are only able to reply to emails sent in English language.

For people living in Australia, we can offer a phone translation service. Have your nurse or English speaking relative call us to arrange this.