{"id":17907,"date":"2014-10-28T20:10:56","date_gmt":"2014-10-28T20:10:56","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-10-15T01:11:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T01:11:01","slug":"cystic-fibrosis-drug-approved-for-pbs-listing-heralding-better-quality-of-life-for-sufferers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiancemagazine.com\/?p=17907","title":{"rendered":"Cystic fibrosis drug approved for PBS listing, heralding ‘better quality of life’ for sufferers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and their families are celebrating after the Federal Government listed a drug on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) that will help treat some people with the genetic disease.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Health Minister Peter Dutton said the Government has approved the listing of ivacaftor, the first medicine to treat the underlying cause of CF in patients with a specific gene mutation.<\/p>\n

It will be available from December for patients aged six and over with the G551F gene mutation and will be marketed as Kalydeco.<\/p>\n

Cystic fibrosis is the most common life-threatening genetic condition affecting young people in Australia.<\/p>\n

It affects the lungs and digestive system, with patients struggling to breathe because of mucus clogging their lungs. There is currently no cure.<\/p>\n

“With this new treatment many patients can experience an improved quality of life with reductions in respiratory and gastrointestinal complications, improved lung function and fewer hospitalisations,” Mr Dutton said.<\/p>\n

Cystic Fibrosis Australia chief executive Michelle Skinner told ABC News 24 the drug significantly reduces the symptoms of CF.<\/p>\n

“The medications that [patients] take are significantly reduced,” she said.<\/p>\n

“[The result is] less time having quite invasive treatments, less hospitalisations and a much, much better quality of life for children and adults with CF.”<\/p>\n

The CF gene was first discovered in 1989 and medical experts consider ivacaftor to be the most important development in the treatment of the disease since.<\/p>\n

The Government has approved $174.5 million over the next four years to fund ivacaftor on the PBS.<\/p>\n

Without the Government subsidy, about 200 Australian families would be looking at costs of more than $250,000 a year to use the treatment, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Australia.<\/strong><\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/au.news.yahoo.com\/world\/a\/25352499\/cystic-fibrosis-drug-approved-for-pbs-listing-heralding-better-quality-of-life-for-sufferers\/<\/p>\n

Brand New Day for Cystic Fibrosis Sufferers!<\/strong>
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