New Subsidies to Shield Breast Cancer Survivors From High Medicine Costs

The Australian government has subsidised a common medication prescribed to breast cancer survivors to prevent recurrence, making it affordable for the public.

From May 1, patients who are eligible for the subsidies will pay at most $31.60 for Verzenio, where some used to pay $97,000 for the two-year treatment course. Illustration - Mark_Kostich/Shutterstock

Early breast cancer survivors who are at high risk of the disease recurring will soon find the preventative medication costing as little as $7.70 (US$5).

An additional 2,400 Australians who have lived through early breast cancer will have the cancer drug, abemaciclib (Verzenio), subsidised under a federal government scheme.