In brief
The PBS has been broadened to provide subsidised access for children with cystic fibrosis, patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and thyroid eye disease, and to adjust prescription limits for the high‑cholesterol drug Repatha. The change includes a child‑friendly Granule form of Trikafta, the addition of Tepezza for thyroid eye disease, and expanded first‑line treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma, with expected benefits to thousands of Australians. The move is part of continued efforts to increase affordability and reach of essential therapies.
On November 1, 2026 the Australian government announced an expansion of its Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) that will allow greater access to subsidised treatments for cystic fibrosis, blood cancer and thyroid eye disease.
According to Xinhua, the changes will introduce a child‑friendly granule form of Trikafta for children aged six to 11 who weigh less than 30 kg, with an estimated 3,300 Australians benefiting each year. Xinhua also reported that the PBS listing for Tepezza, a treatment for thyroid eye disease, will serve an estimated 310 patients annually, and that access to Adcetris for advanced Hodgkin lymphoma will benefit about 370 patients each year. The government added that the listing for Repatha will now allow eligible patients to obtain larger quantities under a 60‑day prescription initiative, with a maximum cost of 25 Australian dollars per prescription or 7.70 Australian dollars for concession card holders.
The National Tribune covered the same developments, noting that the new PBS listings come as part of the government’s broader effort to increase access to high‑cost treatments. The Tribune highlighted the child‑friendly formulation of Trikafta as a key benefit for younger patients and remarked on the inclusion of Tepezza and Adcetris as significant steps for patients with thyroid eye disease and blood cancer respectively.
A press release from the Department of Health explained that, effective 1 November, the PBS will provide access to Elexacaftor with tezacaftor and ivacaftor—or ivacaftor alone— for eligible children, while also revising the reimbursement model for Repatha to allow larger quantities under a 60‑day prescription initiative, capped at AUD 25 per prescription.
The Trikafta granule form represents a targeted approach to a severe genetic disease. Trikafta, a combination of Elexacaftor, Tezacaftor and Ivacaftor, addresses the underlying protein‑misfolding that causes cystic fibrosis. The child‑friendly granules are designed to ease swallowing difficulties that often limit the use of the standard tablet in younger patients, as stated in the Xinhua report. The Australian government estimates that about 3,300 children will qualify for the expanded formulation each year, providing a pathway to a treatment that could otherwise cost more than 20,300 Australian dollars per prescription.
For thyroid eye disease, the addition of Tepezza to the PBS expands options for patients with active, moderate‑to‑severe symptoms. The NSW Tribune’s coverage of Tepezza’s listing underscored the drug’s role as a first‑line therapy for thyroid eye disease, a condition that can threaten vision if untreated. Meanwhile, the expansion of Adcetris for Hodgkin lymphoma is intended to increase the availability of a first‑line treatment option for patients with advanced CD30‑positive classical Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the Xinhua article, around 370 Australians will benefit annually from the new listing.
Repatha, a high‑cholesterol drug, has also received a policy adjustment. The 60‑day prescription initiative, detailed in the Department of Health release, allows eligible patients to refill medication up to 60 days in one go, a change that reduces frequency of pharmacy visits. Patients will continue to pay a modest out‑of‑pocket fee of 25 Australian dollars per prescription, with a concession card discount available, as noted in the Xinhua report.
Beyond the specific drugs, the PBS expansion is part of a larger funding push. The government announced that it has approved additional funding for 511 new and amended PBS listings since July 2022, reflecting a sustained commitment to covering costly, high‑impact therapies. The Xinhua piece frames this as a continuation of earlier initiatives to expand subsidised medication access.
Overall, the shift in the PBS policy will make a range of advanced therapies more affordable and easier to access for a variety of patients across the country, an approach that the government says will benefit several thousand Australians each year.
