The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), delivered welcomed news for Australians living with biliary cancer this week with IMFINZI® (durvalumab) being made available for patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC) from 1 December 2023.

Patients will now have reimbursed access to IMFINZI® (durvalumab) – the first new treatment in over ten years for this incurable disease. This will mean the cost of treatment is significantly reduced – helping patients have equitable access to treatments. 

Doug Hawkins, CEO of Pancare Foundation, welcomes the listing:

“The inclusion of IMFINZI® on the PBS is wonderful news for patients living with locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer as there has been limited progress in new therapies over the past decade.
 
More than 1,300 Australians are diagnosed with BTC each year. BTC currently has one of the worst survival rates of all cancers in Australia, with only one in five people diagnosed surviving more than five years. Pancare Foundation welcomes any new therapy that offers patients greater choice regarding treatment that aims to provide them with more time with their families.”

For more information on this announcement please reach out to a member of our Pansupport team at pancare.org.au/pansupport or call 1300 881 698