New MS Injection Added to Subsidised Medicines List
04 Dec 2025
People in Australia living with multiple sclerosis will soon have access to a faster and more convenient treatment option, following the addition of a new therapy to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
The medicine, ocrelizumab (brand name Ocrevus), is now PBS-subsidised for adults diagnosed with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), which accounts for the majority of MS cases. While the treatment has been available for some time, it was previously given as a hospital-based intravenous infusion, administered twice a year over several hours. The newly listed formulation allows the same medication to be given under the skin once every six months, with administration taking about 10 minutes.
The change is expected to make treatment far easier to access, particularly for people living outside major cities, and to reduce the personal and financial impact of long clinic visits, including time away from work.
RRMS is a form of MS marked by periods of active disease, where symptoms worsen or new neurological problems appear, followed by phases of recovery. Health authorities estimate that over 30,000 Australians each year could benefit from the new PBS listing. Before subsidisation, the cost of treatment could exceed $16,500 per course, placing it out of reach for many patients.
The injection was introduced into the UK health system last year and has since been closely watched by Australian clinicians.
The PBS update coincides with the release of new national data showing the growing impact of MS across the country. Research from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research estimates that MS now places a burden of more than $3 billion each year on the Australian economy.
Its latest report found that nearly 38,000 people are currently living with MS in Australia, representing a 77% increase since 2010. Lead researcher Dr Julie Campbell said the average cost per person with MS is close to $80,000 annually, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
She noted that while average costs per individual have slightly declined after adjusting for inflation—possibly due to the benefits of newer, high-effectiveness treatments—the total cost continues to rise as diagnosis rates increase.
The report calls for stronger investment in MS prevention research, along with earlier diagnosis, improved treatments aimed at protecting and repairing nerve damage, and better employment support to help people with MS remain active in the workforce.
Alongside the MS treatment listing, several other medicines have also been added or expanded under the PBS. These include toripalimab (Zytorvi) for certain adults with advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, expected to assist around 75 patients per year.
Access has also been broadened for bimekizumab (Bimzelx) in people with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa, building on the thousands who already accessed similar therapies through the PBS.
In addition, pegcetacoplan (Empaveli) will now be available for adults with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria who do not respond adequately to existing treatments or who are starting therapy for the first time.
Together, the latest PBS changes expand access to specialised treatments and aim to ease both the health and financial burden faced by Australians with complex medical conditions.
News Source: RACGP
