The Leukaemia Foundation has welcomed news that for the first time, a targeted treatment option will now be available for Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) patients through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The Leukaemia Foundation has welcomed news that for the first time, a targeted treatment option will now be available for Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) patients through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Federal Minister for Health, The Hon. Mark Butler MP, announced the expansion of the listing of Larotrectinib (Brukinsa®) on the PBS for the treatment of WM, effective from 1 July 2022.

Minister Butler said without subsidy, WM patients would pay over $104,000 per year to access the treatment.

WM is a rare and currently incurable form of blood cancer diagnosed in around 100 Australians every year. In WM, abnormal cells produce large amounts of a particular protein, called IgM, which builds up in the bone marrow, spleen and blood. This causes the blood to become thick and impairs its ability to flow to various organs in the body.

Some people do not show symptoms for several years even after diagnosis, as such, WM is more common in people aged over 60, and typically affects men more than women.

For more information on the PBS listing, please visit: https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/new-pbs-listings-from-1-july-2022