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Deferasirox is an iron chelating agent that has been proven to reduce iron levels in the body and is used to treat people with iron overload. In MDS, iron overload occurs as a result of people needing regular blood transfusions – a supportive care treatment for MDS.
This drug is currently being assessed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to determine if it should continue to be funded on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia for people with MDS who have iron overload. PBS listing makes the drug affordable to those whose disease state fits specific criteria to warrant them being given access to the drug at an affordable cost.
The PBAC recognises the benefits of deferasirox in reducing iron overload in other iron overload conditions which are non-malignant. Deferasirox has been shown to reduce the level of iron in the body associated with non-malignant conditions like thalassaemia major. Iron chelation in these diseases has been recognised to improve the quality of life and overall survival of people affected by iron overload. The government is negotiating with the supplier of deferasirox regarding the current use of this drug in MDS.
The Leukaemia Foundation recognises the improvement deferasirox has on the lives of people with MDS who are living with the effects of iron overload. We also recognise the difficulties people will have in accessing and paying for this treatment if it is not subsidised by the government's PBS scheme.
As the leading advocacy group for people affected by blood cancer in Australia, the Foundation is making a submission to the PBAC in support of keeping deferasirox on the PBS scheme (which will continue to make this drug accessible to people with MDS who would otherwise not be able to afford to take it).
If you are taking deferasirox or have been diagnosed with MDS and you would like the PBAC to know what it means to you to have access to this drug now and in the future, at a subsidised cost, please consider contributing to the Leukaemia Foundation’s submission to the PBAC by completing this short survey.
The results of this survey will accompany our submission.
The closing date for this survey is 31 May 2015.
Conflict of interest: The distributor of deferasirox is Novartis Oncology. The Leukaemia Foundation advises that while it receives unrestricted education grants from Novartis Oncology for unrelated projects, the Foundation has not received funding, advice, or support in any way for its deferasirox submission to the PBAC or in relation to any other medication.
This drug is currently being assessed by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to determine if it should continue to be funded on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia for people with MDS who have iron overload. PBS listing makes the drug affordable to those whose disease state fits specific criteria to warrant them being given access to the drug at an affordable cost.
The PBAC recognises the benefits of deferasirox in reducing iron overload in other iron overload conditions which are non-malignant. Deferasirox has been shown to reduce the level of iron in the body associated with non-malignant conditions like thalassaemia major. Iron chelation in these diseases has been recognised to improve the quality of life and overall survival of people affected by iron overload. The government is negotiating with the supplier of deferasirox regarding the current use of this drug in MDS.
The Leukaemia Foundation recognises the improvement deferasirox has on the lives of people with MDS who are living with the effects of iron overload. We also recognise the difficulties people will have in accessing and paying for this treatment if it is not subsidised by the government's PBS scheme.
As the leading advocacy group for people affected by blood cancer in Australia, the Foundation is making a submission to the PBAC in support of keeping deferasirox on the PBS scheme (which will continue to make this drug accessible to people with MDS who would otherwise not be able to afford to take it).
If you are taking deferasirox or have been diagnosed with MDS and you would like the PBAC to know what it means to you to have access to this drug now and in the future, at a subsidised cost, please consider contributing to the Leukaemia Foundation’s submission to the PBAC by completing this short survey.
The results of this survey will accompany our submission.
The closing date for this survey is 31 May 2015.
Conflict of interest: The distributor of deferasirox is Novartis Oncology. The Leukaemia Foundation advises that while it receives unrestricted education grants from Novartis Oncology for unrelated projects, the Foundation has not received funding, advice, or support in any way for its deferasirox submission to the PBAC or in relation to any other medication.