Breast cancer and endometriosis drug Zoladex is being pulled from Australia. How will women be affected?
Summary
AstraZeneca is removing the breast cancer and endometriosis drug Zoladex from Australia's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the private market starting November. This change means many women may lose access to this important medicine that reduces estrogen production, which is used to treat hormone-related breast cancer and relieve endometriosis pain.Key Facts
- Zoladex is a monthly implant that lowers estrogen by temporarily stopping the ovaries, helping treat hormone-positive breast cancer and endometriosis.
- About 7,000 women with breast cancer in Australia use Zoladex each year, with 94,000 prescriptions filled in the past 18 months.
- The drug also helps preserve fertility in young women undergoing chemotherapy and reduces risk of cancer recurrence.
- AstraZeneca is ending the supply of the 3.6mg Zoladex implant, likely due to business reasons related to shifting focus to a higher-dose 10.8mg implant used for prostate cancer.
- The higher-dose implant lasts three months but is not currently PBS-listed for breast cancer or endometriosis patients.
- The price of Zoladex in Australia is much lower than in the US, but AstraZeneca says making both doses is commercially challenging.
- Breast Cancer Network Australia and doctors warn that removing the drug will seriously affect women’s health and quality of life.
- AstraZeneca and Australian authorities have said the decision was based on commercial viability, but critics say more transparency is needed.
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