Latest news with #PharmaceuticalBenefitsScheme
9 News
13 hours ago
- Health
- 9 News
Revolutionary late-stage melanoma treatment sees survival rates surge
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A revolution in the treatment of late-stage melanoma has been reached, with clinical trial results seeing surging survival rates. Doctors are confident the new therapy approach, which will be subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), will overhaul the treatment of many types of deadly cancers. A tumour the size of a golf ball saw death come knocking for Matthew Croxford. A revolution in the treatment of late-stage melanoma has been reached with clinical trial results seeing surging survival rates (Nine) "You think - is this it?" the 52-year-old father-of-two told 9News. "And I had a lot of things to still achieve in my life." Croxford was offered to take part in an Australian and Netherlands-driven trial. The new therapy has flipped the cancer paradigm on its head, by giving the body the best opportunity to activate its own cancer-fighting defences. "It's like the sniffer dogs that find the fruit and veg and drugs at the airport, they're trained against what they need to find," The Melanoma Institute's Professor Georgina Long said. "By giving immunotherapy before surgery, we train our immune system better against the cancer," she said. A new therapy has flipped the cancer paradigm on its head by giving the body the best opportunity to activate its own cancer-fighting defences. (Nine) Of the 423 patients with Stage 3 melanoma, one group received usual treatment with surgery first, then a single immunotherapy drug. That order was then flipped for the other group, who were given two immunotherapy drugs first to shrink the tumour before surgery. "Their chance of the melanoma coming back is next to zero - it's less than five per cent," Long said. Such revolutionary results have seen the treatment approved to be funded by the PBS - a world first. Matthew Croxford was offered to take part in an Australian and Netherlands-driven trial. (Nine) Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world, with one person diagnosed every 30 minutes and a life lost every six hours because of the disease. Advances in treatment like this shift a diagnosis that has often been a death sentence to promising odds of survival. "I'm effectively cancer-free, I have no side effects whatsoever, and I'm incredibly fortunate," Croxford said. "It's like the sniffer dogs that find the fruit and veg and drugs at the airport, they're trained against what they need to find," The Melanoma Institute's Professor Georgina Long said. (Nine) The radical overhaul of traditional treatment is now being explored for other cancers, including lung, triple-negative breast cancer, kidney, head and neck cancers. This new treatment for Stage 3 melanoma patients is to be listed on the PBS within months. national cancer health melanoma medicine PBS CONTACT US Property News: The last inner Sydney suburbs where houses cost under $2m.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Health
- West Australian
More WA teens being given Ozempic as off-label prescribing worries grow
The number of WA children being prescribed boom weight-loss drug Ozempic has skyrocketed 84 per cent in 12 months. Department of Health and Aged Care figures showed since the diabetes treatment drug was put on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme in 2020, prescriptions for under-18s have increased from just six in the 2020-21 financial year, to 70 in 2022-23 before peaking at 129 in 2023-24 . It's thought to be the result of off-label prescribing by doctors, which occurs when drugs are prescribed to treat conditions other than those approved by medical regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration. But the latest data doesn't take in private (non-PBS) prescriptions or public inpatient prescriptions. Gary Deed, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' diabetes specific interest group, said while he hasn't seen this sort of off-label prescribing at hi practice, there was evidence of it. 'Obviously, there has been an uptick, but it's not clear from the figures if it's from GPs or specialists,' Dr Deed said. He said children with early-onset type 2 diabetes were usually under the care of paediatric specialists with expertise in managing complex cases, so it 'might reflect an increase in specialist care prescribing'. With more than one in four WA children aged five to 15 classed as overweight or obese, Dr Deed said younger people with type 2 diabetes were 'a group we have great concerns about'. 'It's critical that we take care of these children. The numbers are increasing alarmingly in relation to changes in lifestyle,' he said. Dr Deed said it was 'not appropriate' for GPs to prescribe the costly drug off-label and expect the Federal Government to fund it. 'I think it's a timely reminder for people who have been prescribed a drug and prescribers to look at the prescribing guidelines and adhere to them,' he said. Semaglutide, the active drug in Ozempic, works by mimicking a natural hormone released in the gut after eating. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, slows digestion and increases feelings of fullness. Approved by the TGA in 2019 for type 2 diabetes treatment in adults, its use in children is largely unregulated and difficult to monitor. Ozempic product information warns the 'safety and efficacy of semaglutide in children and adolescents has not been studied'. Wegovy, made by the same manufacturer, is the only semaglutide approved for weight management in young people aged 12-18, and only in addition to 'a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity'. The manufacturer's last two attempts to have it put on the PBS were knocked back.
The Advertiser
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on how he will handle meeting Donald Trump
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has given a show of strength ahead of his possible meeting with United States President Donald Trump next week, vowing to stand up for Australia's interests and hold the line on defence, trade and social media regulation. In his first major speech after being re-elected with an enlarged majority, Mr Albanese told the National Press Club on Tuesday that he would lead the nation to "compete and succeed in the world ... Our own way, on our terms, in our interests". "On things like the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the media bargaining code, our biosecurity in agriculture, they're not on the table," Mr Albanese said in response to a question about this approach to trade negotiations with Mr Trump. "But are there areas in which Australia and the United States can have win-wins? Yes, I believe that there are, and I will engage in those discussions respectfully." The Trump administration has called for Australia to lift defence spending and complained about strict biosecurity rules that block some beef from being imported from the US, as well as the low prices paid for US-made medicines on the PBS. Mr Trump is yet to give any exemptions to sweeping US tariffs that have hit major Australian exports like beef, steel and aluminium, despite having told the Prime Minister this was "under consideration" in February. Mr Albanese told the National Press Club that his government would not "imitate low-wage economies" or trade away "the things that make us the best country on earth". The Prime Minister will attend the G7 Leaders' Summit alongside Mr Trump in Alberta, Canada, from June 15 to 17, creating an opportunity to finally meet face-to-face with the President, although no plans have been confirmed. Asked if he would be prepared to walk away from such a meeting without a deal "if the Americans don't offer a good one", Mr Albanese said he did not want to pre-empt any conversation with the President. "I want people to be able to have a mature discussion ... without screaming headlines," he said. "On any arrangements, as we did with the European Union, we'll only sign up to things that are in Australia's national interest." Mr Albanese also received what he described as a "very warm" congratulatory phone call from the President after being re-elected with an enlarged majority on May 3. In his post-election National Press Club address, he said Australians had "voted against importing conflicts and ideologies that have no basis in our national culture or character". "They rejected policies copied from overseas that would only leave us a smaller, narrower, less generous and more divided country," he said. When asked about slow progress on the government's promised News Media Bargaining Incentive - which would impose a levy on social media companies like Meta that refuse to pay for news content on their platforms - Mr Albanese said it was "not on the table" in tariff negotiations, along with the promised under-16s social media ban. "We respect the role of, particularly, local papers," he said. "As a local here in Canberra, it plays a vital role and it is of critical importance that those media organisations are able to survive." The government is yet to release a promised discussion paper, a necessary step before introducing legislation to implement the levy, announced in December. When asked if refusing to lift the defence budget to 3.5 per cent of GDP, as requested by the US administration, would imperil the AUKUS submarine deal, Mr Albanese said: "Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. Simple as that." "We will always provide for capability that's needed," the Prime Minister said, leaving the door open to higher defence spending if needed to achieve this, while saying "arbitrary figures ... lead to a cul-de-sac". The Coalition went to the election with a pledge to lift Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade and Opposition Defence Spokesperson Angus Taylor last week called on the Albanese government to commit to "at least" 3 per cent. After revealing that he had spoken with Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, who was shot by police in Los Angeles on Monday while covering the protests against immigration raids for 9News, Mr Albanese said his government had raised the incident with the Trump administration. "We don't find it acceptable that it occurred. And we think the role of the media is particularly important," he said. "She was clearly identified [as] a journalist ... People should respect the role that the media play in our modern society." Asked if he would raise the issue with Mr Trump in person, Mr Albanese said he would not foreshadow "discussions between myself and the President". "That's the way I deal with people - diplomatically, appropriately and with respect," he said.
1News
10-06-2025
- Politics
- 1News
'Horrific footage': Albanese raises shot Australian journalist with US
Australia has raised an incident involving a Nine TV reporter with US officials after she was shot by police with a rubber bullet while covering protests in Los Angeles. But the prime minister remains tight-lipped on whether he will discuss the shooting during an expected meeting with President Donald Trump, despite describing footage of the event as horrific. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. (Source: Getty) Nine Network's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was reporting on clashes between protests and police in response to immigration raids, when she was struck in the leg by a rubber bullet. Footage of the incident appears to show an officer taking aim in her direction before firing. ADVERTISEMENT Anthony Albanese said he had spoken with Tomasi on Tuesday morning, and that the incident had been raised with US authorities. "She's going OK, she's pretty resilient, I've got to say, but that footage was horrific," he told the National Press Club. "That was the footage of an Australian journalist doing what journalists do at their very best, which is to go into an environment that's not comfortable. "We have already raised these issues with the US administration. We don't find it acceptable that it occurred, and we think that the role of the media is particularly important." Albanese said Tomasi was clearly identified as a reporter and was doing her job before being fired upon. The Nine reporter said she was alright after the incident and was still reporting on the ground. ADVERTISEMENT "I have a bit of a bloody big old bruise and it's a little bit sore, but I am all OK," Tomasi told the Today programme. "It's a really crappy thing that's happened, but I really don't want to be the story ... it's a really chaotic situation that's unfolding in Los Angeles." The Greens have urged Albanese to highlight the issue with Trump during an anticipated meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. But the prime minister would not confirm if he planned to raise the shooting, adding: "Discussions I have with the president are discussions between myself and the president." Albanese is preparing to make the case for why Australia should be exempted from tariffs, including a levy of 50% on steel and aluminium exports. He said there were areas in which Australia and the US could both secure wins, but any agreements would have to be in the national interest. That meant potential sticking points, like pricing for US products on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the treatment of tech companies under the media bargaining code, would not be on the table. ADVERTISEMENT "I will engage in those discussions respectfully as we have over recent months," Albanese said.
West Australian
10-06-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
'Horrific footage': shot reporter's case raised with US
Australia has raised an incident involving a Nine TV reporter with US officials after she was shot by police with a rubber bullet while covering protests in Los Angeles. But the prime minister remains tight-lipped on whether he will discuss the shooting during an expected meeting with President Donald Trump, despite describing footage of the event as horrific. Nine Network's US correspondent Lauren Tomasi was reporting on clashes between protests and police in response to immigration raids, when she was struck in the leg by a rubber bullet. Footage of the incident appears to show an officer taking aim in her direction before firing. Anthony Albanese said he had spoken with Tomasi on Tuesday morning, and that the incident had been raised with US authorities. "She's going okay, she's pretty resilient, I've got to say, but that footage was horrific," he told the National Press Club. "That was the footage of an Australian journalist doing what journalists do at their very best, which is to go into an environment that's not comfortable. "We have already raised these issues with the US administration. We don't find it acceptable that it occurred, and we think that the role of the media is particularly important." Mr Albanese said Tomasi was clearly identified as a reporter and was doing her job before being fired upon. The Nine reporter said she was alright after the incident and was still reporting on the ground. "I have a bit of a bloody big old bruise and it's a little bit sore, but I am all OK," Tomasi told the Today program. "It's a really crappy thing that's happened, but I really don't want to be the story ... it's a really chaotic situation that's unfolding in Los Angeles." The Greens have urged Mr Albanese to highlight the issue with Mr Trump during an anticipated meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. But the prime minister would not confirm if he planned to raise the shooting, adding: "Discussions I have with the president are discussions between myself and the president." Mr Albanese is preparing to make the case for why Australia should be exempted from tariffs, including a levy of 50 per cent on steel and aluminium exports. He said there were areas in which Australia and the US could both secure wins, but any agreements would have to be in the national interest. That meant potential sticking points, like pricing for US products on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the treatment of tech companies under the media bargaining code, would not be on the table. "I will engage in those discussions respectfully as we have over recent months," Mr Albanese said.
