On 31 January 2025, Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) published the outcomes considered at its December 2024 intracycle meeting.
Abbvie’s Humira® (adalimumab) received a number of recommendations, including:
- new PBS listings for enthesitis/spondylitis related JIA and chronic plaque psoriasis for paediatric patients; and
- amended PBS listings for moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and severe Crohn’s disease to allow dose escalation and more flexible dosing.
This follows PBS-listing of Sandoz’s high concentration adalimumab biosimilar, Hyrimoz®, in January 2025.
BMS’ PBS submission for Opdivo® (nivolumab) for the perioperative treatment of patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was not recommended. BMS has requested a post-PBAC meeting to look for a pathway to achieve PBS-listing for this indication.
Opdivo® is currently under review by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma or hepatocellular carcinoma that cannot be removed surgically.