New cancer drug to extend life of thousands of Australians

  • Kyprolis will treat multiple myeloma, a plasma cell cancer which weakens bones
  • The drug used to cost patients $138,800 but will cost from $6.40 in the New Year
  • Experts believe the drug will treat up to 1700 Australian patients a year 

A new cancer drug is expected to extend the life of thousands of Australians and will be available in the New Year.

The new drug Kyprolis will treat multiple myeloma, also known as Kahler’s disease, which is a cancer in blood plasma cells.

Expected to treat up to 1700 patients a year, the drug will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from Monday, January 1 according to The Herald Sun. 

A new cancer drug is expected to extend the life of thousands of Australians and will be available in the New Year (stock image)

The new drug Kyprolis will treat multiple myeloma, also known as Kahler's disease, which is a cancer in blood plasma cells which weakens bones (stock image)

The new drug Kyprolis will treat multiple myeloma, also known as Kahler’s disease, which is a cancer in blood plasma cells which weakens bones (stock image)

Usually costing $138,800 for the treatment, patients will only have to pay $39.50 for each script while some concessions will only have to pay $6.40. 

The disease, where four people in Australia are diagnosed every day, can affect a person’s bones from functioning normally as abnormal plasma cells form leading to tumors or brittle bones.

About 75 per cent of patients are people 60-years-old and over and occurs more often in men than women. 

Kyprolis, also known as Carfilzomib, works by interfering with cancer cell growth, leading to ‘cell suicide’, according to Chemocare.

Myeloma Australia chief executive Steve Roach told the publication it would bring ‘great hope’ to patients as the disease does not have a cure. 

‘There are people who have mortgaged their homes, dipped into their superannuation or life savings just to access this treatment,’ he said. 

Usually costing $138,800 for the treatment, patients will only have to pay $39.50 for each script while some concessions will only have to pay $6.40 (stock image)

Usually costing $138,800 for the treatment, patients will only have to pay $39.50 for each script while some concessions will only have to pay $6.40 (stock image)



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