Australians with chronic heart failure now have access to cheaper medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Dapagliflozin (Forxiga®) will be expanded to treat chronic heart failure in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) greater than 40%, Federal health minister, Mark Butler confirmed today.
The medication protects the heart from getting weaker and improves the common symptoms of heart failure.
It is estimated that more than 480,000 Australians are affected with heart failure with more than 60,000 new diagnoses made every year.
“Around 98,000 Australians living with chronic heart failure will now have another treatment choice thanks to the Albanese Government,” said Mr Butler.
“About 180 Australians are hospitalised every single day with symptomatic chronic heart failure and they are often repeated hospitalisations.
“The listing of Forxiga will give patients access to a treatment at a more affordable cost than they would otherwise pay,” he said.
Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome that impairs the lower left chamber of the heart to fill with or eject blood and is classified based on LVEF.
Forxiga, together with standard care, may reduce the risk of hospitalisation for heart failure and cardiovascular death, said the health minister.
The expanded listing of Forxiga® follows the November 2023 listing of Jardiance® (empagliflozin) for the same type of chronic heart failure, giving around 98,000 Australians a choice between the two treatments.
Without subsidy, Forxiga® would cost patients more than $660 per year of treatment.
