Truqap joins PBS, a milestone for Australian breast cancer care
Thousands of Australians living with metastatic breast cancer will get relief from mounting treatment costs as the federal government adds Truqap to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from October 1, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What this means for patients
On PBS, Truqap becomes subsidised, so patients will pay a maximum of $31.60 per prescription. Previously, a full course could cost around $100,000 without subsidies, placing a heavy burden on families and insurance schemes. The addition of Truqap to the PBS is expected to make the therapy far more accessible to those who could benefit most.
Health Minister Mark Butler underscored the potential for improved outcomes, saying the listing could meaningfully boost survival for people with metastatic disease. “We think that only about 1 in 3 women with metastatic breast cancer will go on to survive five years or more,” he said. “This new listing, Truqap, will provide that additional hope to — we think — about 3,000 women and a few men as well, every single year. Making a very big dent in some of the challenges we have around the survivability and quality of life for women with metastatic breast cancer.”
Context and impact
According to the federal government, more than 21,000 Australians were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, about 13% of all new cancer cases that year, and 3,305 died from the disease. The PBS listing of Truqap is designed to ease financial barriers and support patients in managing their care across the treatment continuum, potentially improving both survivorship and quality of life for those living with metastatic breast cancer.
Voices from the community
Andrea Smith, a founding member of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Action Australia, welcomed the decision: “The estimated 24,000 people living with metastatic breast cancer in Australia often balance work and family responsibilities while dealing with the unrelenting psychological and physical demands of their diagnosis.”
Fran Boyle, a medical oncologist at the Mater Hospital in North Sydney, highlighted the practical implications: “Adding Truqap to the PBS means there is a new treatment option that can be used before chemotherapy, if this is desired.”
What Truqap represents in the treatment landscape
Truqap is indicated for breast cancers that are locally advanced or metastatic and cannot be removed through surgery. By including it on the PBS, clinicians gain an option to initiate targeted therapy earlier in the disease course, potentially delaying chemotherapy and preserving quality of life. The government notes that the listing is a step toward broader access to effective therapies in the metastatic setting.
Looking ahead
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws attention to diagnosis, treatment options, and survivorship, the PBS addition of Truqap reflects ongoing policy efforts to improve equity of access to proven therapies. While not a cure, the subsidised availability of Truqap represents a meaningful advancement in the fight against metastatic breast cancer and aligns with the priority of extending survival and improving daily living for patients in Australia.
