PBS Listing Expands Access to Perjeta for Australians with Early Breast Cancer
01 Jul 2026
Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) welcomed the decision, saying the PBS listing removes a major financial barrier for around 2,500 Australians diagnosed with this type of breast cancer each year.
Before the PBS listing, many patients had to pay thousands of dollars to access the medicine privately, while others were unable to receive the treatment because of the high cost.
Although BCNA described the listing as an important step forward, the organisation also raised concerns about the lengthy wait for subsidised access. Clinical evidence supporting Perjeta has been available for more than a decade, and the medicine was approved by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2018. However, PBS funding was not confirmed until 2026.
BCNA said the delay highlights ongoing challenges in Australia's medicines access system, where patients can face long waits due to government processes, pricing negotiations and commercial decisions.
The organisation is calling for a more timely and transparent approach to listing new cancer medicines on the PBS to ensure Australians can access recommended treatments sooner.
BCNA also acknowledged the patients, clinicians, researchers and advocates who campaigned for improved access, while recognising that for some women, the PBS listing has come too late.
PBS Listing Expands Access to Perjeta for Australians with Early Breast Cancer
Source: Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA)