AstraZeneca, maker of Zoladex, has announced that it will provide the drug to women with no other treatment pathway for free indefinitely.
The move comes after AstraZeneca announced it would be removing Zoladex from Australia in dosages that treat female health conditions – but would keep it for male health conditions. Allow us to explain how this is possible.
Zoladex is a drug that is used in the treatment of endometriosis, breast cancer and also prostate cancer. This particular drug is sold in different dosages depending on the specific condition that needs treatment.
For endometriosis and breast cancer treatment, Zoladex is sold in a 3.6mg dosage in the form of an implant called Goserelin. This is a life-saving medication for those with breast cancer. It is also a critical treatment for managing the debilitating and chronic symptoms of endometriosis. This particular iteration of Zoladex is set to be removed from both the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and from the private market in November 2026.
In the treatment of prostate cancer, Zoladex is sold in a 10.8mg dosage, also in an implant form. The 10.8mg dosage for the treatment of prostate cancer will remain on the PBS.
This means that the dose for female health conditions will no longer be available to Australians at all, either through the PBS or the private market. But, the dosages designed for male anatomy will continue to be subsidised and available to buy in Australia.
It was an unsettling change for women who are currently on the medication, and for those who believe they made need it in the future. After some consultation, AstraZeneca said it would provide eligible patients with Zoladex 3.6mg for free once the drug leaves the market.
A spokesperson for AstraZeneca told RUSSH that for patients “without alternative treatment pathways”, they will be able to receive Zoladex 3.6mg for free from 1 November. The spokesperson explained that if the patient’s clinician or primary healthcare provider who initially prescribed the medication advises that there are no alternative treatment pathways for a patient, that patient will receive Zoladex 3.6mg for free. While AstraZeneca did not initially place a timeframe on how long eligible patients will receive their medication for free, the pharma company has now said the offer will continue indefinitely.
When AstraZeneca was asked why it was choosing to remove only the version used in the treatment of female health conditions, a spokesperson allegedly stated to the ABC that the decision was a commercial one.
A statement on the AstraZeneca website says that the price to keep the medication on the PBS is “too low”, explaining it is “unsustainable to supply the medicine on the PBS”.
The PBS is a system that has been historically unpopular with many pharmaceutical companies. While it is the Australian Federal Government (and ultimately the tax payer) who subsidies the cost of the medications on the PBS list, the medications on the PBS are also bought for a more competitive price point. Our Federal Government works with big pharmaceutical companies to negotiate an overall lower price for Australians, and then our Government subsidises the rest to keep life-saving medications affordable for Australians.
This is why popular drugs like some GLP-1s are not on the PBS, as the producers of these medications will not accept the price Australia has proposed in order to make PBS inclusion viable. Some pharmaceutical companies have said that the Australian PBS undermines American innovation and could cause multi-billion dollar pharma companies to lose some of their profits.
Independent Senator David Pocock has urged AstraZeneca to explain its reasoning behind the removal in more detail. There are also current enquiries about whether the dosage for male anatomy could be applied to females too; in order to ensure those with breast cancer and endometriosis can still have reasonable access to their medication.
Additionally, according to the ABC, authorities and advocates in the healthcare space are reviewing alternative medications that could potentially fill the gap. This includes working with other pharma companies who do or could make similar medications.
A petition has since been created asking AstraZeneca to keep the medication on shelves.
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