Please find below information relating to new and amended Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listings implemented on 1st January 2025.

This information relates to the administration of these listings by Services Australia. For further information on broader PBS changes, please visit pbs.gov.au. Relevant information and authority application forms have been updated and can be accessed through the Services Australia website. 

Severe Crohn's disease ; moderate to severe ulcerative colitis ; severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis; complex refractory fistulising Crohn's disease ; severe active rheumatoid arthritis ; severe psoriatic arthritis; ankylosing spondylitis ; severe chronic plaque psoriasis ; moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa ; vision-threatening non-infectious uveitis

Adalimumab (Hyrimoz®) (40 mg/0.4 ml injection, 2 x 0.4 ml pen devices) is a new strength of biosimilar now listed on the PBS for the treatment of severe Crohn's disease; moderate to severe ulcerative colitis ; severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis; complex refractory fistulising Crohn's disease ; severe active rheumatoid arthritis ; severe psoriatic arthritis; ankylosing spondylitis ; severe chronic plaque psoriasis ; moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa ; vision-threatening non-infectious uveitis 

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Dasatinib (20 mg tablet; 50 mg tablet; 70 mg tablet; 100 mg tablet) has had a change of restriction to allow subsidised access beyond 24 months of treatment. Authority applications for first line initial treatment and second line initial treatment can be made in writing. Authority applications for continuing treatment can be made either in real-time using the Online PBS Authorities system or by telephone. 

lmatinib (100 mg capsule; 400 mg capsule; 100 mg tablet;400 mg tablet; 600 mg tablet) has had a change of restriction to allow subsidised access beyond 24 months of treatment. Authority applications for first line initial treatment can be made either in real-time using the Online PBS Authorities system or by telephone. Prescriptions for continuing treatment are Authority required (STREAMLINED). 

Late onset growth hormone deficiency 

Somatropin (Genotropin GoQuick®; Norditropin FlexPro®; Saizen®) has had a change of restriction to enable adults with established hypothalamic-pituitary disease to be eligible for access to somatropin without the requirement to undergo dynamic testing (e.g. insulin tolerance test or glucagon provocative test). Authority applications for initial treatment can be made either in real-time using the Online PBS Authorities system or in writing. Authority applications for continuing treatment can be made either in real-time using the Online PBS Authorities system or by telephone. 

Pre-symptomatic spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)

Risdiplam (Evrysdi®) (750 microgram/ml powder for oral liquid, 80 ml) has had an amendment to the treatment criteria. Authority applications for initial treatment can be made either using the Online PBS Authorities system or in writing. Authority applications for continuing treatment can be made either using the Online PBS Authorities system or by telephone. 

Complex refractory Fistulising Crohn's disease

Ustekinumab (Stelara®) (90 mg/ml injection, 1 ml syringe) for the treatment of complex refractory Fistulising Crohn's disease has had an amendment to remove the grandfather restriction. Authority applications for initial and continuing treatments can be made in writing.

Metastatic breast cancer

Olaparib (Lynparza®) (100 mg tablet; 150 mg tablet) is now listed on the PBS for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) negative metastatic breast cancer with a confirmed BRCA 1 or BRCA2 mutation. Authority applications for initial and continuing treatments can be made either in real-time using the Online PBS Authorities system or by telephone. 

Castration resistant metastatic carcinoma of the prostate

Talazoparib (Talzenna®) (100 microgram capsule; 250 microgram capsule; 350 microgram capsule; 500 microgram capsule) is now listed on the PBS for the treatment of castration resistant metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. Authority applications for treatment can be made either in real-time using the Online PBS Authorities system or by telephone.

Severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Tofacitinib (Xeljanz®) (5 mg tablet; 1 mg/ml oral liquid, 240 ml) for the treatment of severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis has had an amendment to remove the grandfather restriction with a supply only arrangement for 12 months. Authority applications for initial treatment can be made either in real­ time using the Online PBS Authorities system or by telephone. Prescriptions for continuing treatment are Authority required (STREAMLINED).

Schizophrenia

Risperidone (Risvan®) (75 mg modified release injection [1 syringe] (&) inert substance diluent [0.383 ml syringe], 1 pack; 100 mg modified release injection [1 syringe] (&) inert substance diluent [0.49 ml syringe], 1 pack) is now listed on the PBS for the treatment of schizophrenia. Prescriptions for treatment are Authority required (STREAMLINED).

1 January 2025 delisted PBS listings

Severe dry eye syndrome

Hypromellose + carbomer-980 (Genteal gel®; HPMC PAA®) (hypromellose 0.3% + carbomer-980 0.2%eye gel, 10 g) has been delisted from the PBS with a 6-month supply only arrangement.

For more information about the Online PBS Authorities system visit www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/hppbsauthorities.

Services Australia has a broad range of educational resources on the Health Professional Education Resources website. This includes simulations, podcast and an infographic on the Online PBS Authorities system. Visit https://hpe.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pharmaceutical-benefits-scheme.html.

Visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpwrittenauthoritydrugs on the Services Australia website to find the most up to date authority application form for each drug, program or condition.

For more information go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpos. To learn more about these updates, please contact Services Australia directly.

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