A drug that cures Hepatitis C will be available to thousands more Australians from this week.
The breakthrough medicine Maviret is due to be listed on the Federal Government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on Wednesday.
The cost of the drug will be reduced from the current price per treatment of $50,000 to only $39.50 or $6.40 for concession holders, Seven News reported.
The new drug cures 90 per cent of patients who undergo treatment for the deadly liver disease.
A drug that cures Hepatitis C will be available to thousands more Australians from this week
Hepatitis C is spread from blood to blood contact including sharing of drug equipment, leading to swelling of the liver, liver failure, and sometimes cancer.
Melbourne busker Stephen Twohig told the network he thought he was going to die from the disease until he underwent a trial for the drug.
‘I had pains in my liver, and that was from cirrhosis,’ he said.
‘I always thought I would die from Hepatitis C.’
Hepatitis C is spread from blood to blood contact including sharing of drug equipment, leading to swelling of the liver, liver failure, and sometimes cancer (stock photo)
Health Minister Greg Hunt told the network he hopes the disease will be cured in Australia.
‘We want to be the first major country in the world that eradicates Hepatitis C, and this is our chance,’ he said.
The drug contains two anti-viral agents that stop the virus multiplying and spreading to new cells.
Kirby Institute head of Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program Professor Gregory Dore was also hopeful the PBS listing would help eliminate the disease.
Melbourne busker Stephen Twohig (pictured) thought he was going to die from the disease until he underwent a trial for the drug.
‘The inclusion of Maviret on the PBS provides a further tool in the strategy to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat in Australia, and globally,’ he told AAP.
‘For people living with hepatitis C, particularly those who are new to treatment, this new regimen provides another treatment option.’