26 May 2023
PCFA has joined Health Minister Mark Butler and survivor Graham Oldfield to announce listing of the life-extending medicine Eryland® on the PBS from June 1 2023 for men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
Around 3,000 men in our community, and their families, will benefit from this outcome, saving around $45,000 per year in script fees.
The life-extending medicine works by blocking the action of testosterone in prostate cancer cells, preventing the hormone androgen (which plays a role in prostate cancer growth) from binding to the androgen receptor.
The therapy is taken as a tablet once a day, with or without food. It can delay the appearance of metastases (sites of tumour cell growth) and can extend survival time by 14 months for men with metastatic disease.
Importantly, clinical trials found that men who received the drug were less likely to die than those taking hormone therapy alone and were less likely to see their cancer progress to becoming treatment resistant.
The importance of extending survival time cannot be underestimated. Ultimately, our hope is to accelerate research so that in the intervening period we can find a way of beating it.
We advocated strongly for this listing, which was recommended by Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee following a lengthy consumer comment period.
Watch the news story here or call our team on 1800 22 00 99 to discuss whether you are eligible.
ABOUT ERLYAND®
Eryland® is an anti-cancer medicine that contains the active substance, apalutamide and belongs to a group of medicines called androgen receptor inhibitors. It is prescribed to individuals with metastatic prostate cancer that still respond to treatments that lower testosterone.
Eryland® is an oral treatment taken once per day and can be taken at home without the need of attending a hospital or another medical facility. ERLYAND is used in combination with other forms of hormone therapy.
This listing provides an additional treatment option for men impacted by metastatic disease, which carries a significantly higher risk of death than early-stage prostate cancer.
Clinical trials have found Eryland® can block the action of testosterone in prostate cancer cells and prevents the hormone androgen, which plays a role in prostate cancer growth, from binding to the androgen receptor.
The therapy is taken as a tablet once a day, with or without food. It can delay the appearance of metastases (sites of tumour cell growth) and can extend life by 14 months compared to taking hormone therapy on its own. Men who received the drug reduced their risks of dying compared to men who took a first-generation hormone therapy on its own, reduced their risks of cancer progression, and reduced the speed of progression of metastases compared to those who did not take Eryland®.
PBS ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
For patients with metastatic hormone sensitive carcinoma of the prostate.
Clinical criteria: The treatment must be/have been initiated within 6 months of treatment initiation with androgen deprivation therapy.
AND: Patient must only receive subsidy for one novel hormonal drug per lifetime for prostate cancer (regardless of whether a drug was subsidised under a metastatic/non-metastatic indication);
OR: Patient must only receive subsidy for a subsequent novel hormonal drug where there has been a severe intolerance to another novel hormonal drug leading to permanent treatment cessation,
AND: Patient must not receive PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug if progressive disease develops while on this drug.
Treatment criteria: Patient must be undergoing concurrent androgen deprivation therapy.
Click here to visit the PBS listing page.
