New treatment announced on PBS

The PBS has announced reimbursement for a new osteoporosis anabolic treatment – Abaloparatide (brand name Eladynos) for first line treatment and second line of treatment of severe osteoporosis (also known as high fracture risk patients).

Greg Lyubomisrky, CEO Healthy Bones Australia said “This is welcome news for people diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and adds to the options available to doctors to treat this serious chronic disease.” Greg stressed, “This provides access to the latest treatments to protect bone health.” 

Professor Ego Seeman said “bone building anabolic drugs are now available and have been shown to partly retore the mass of bone lost and improve the 3-dimensional architecture of the bone.” Professor Seeman explained there is evidence this treatment can reduce risk of spine and other fractures by depositing new bone on the external surface of the bone, on the inside surface (known as the cortex) and upon the lattice-like honeycomb bone tissue (known as trabeculae) making them thicker. 

Professor Peter Wong, Medical Director of Healthy Bones Australia said, “This is a powerful new class of treatment to help manage osteoporosis and prevent fractures in patients with serious osteoporosis.”

Professor Wong explained that these are limited-use treatments and must be followed up with an alternate osteoporosis treatment once the initial prescription is completed. 

Access and dosage for abaloparatide (brand name Eladynos) Treatment is initiated by a Specialist and repeat scripts can be from a GP. Dose is by daily self-injection for up to 18-months.

PBS criteria as a first osteoporosis treatment  Patients must not have received any PBS-subsidised osteoporosis treatment previously, and be at very high risk of fracture. This is determined by Bone Mineral Density (BMD) T-score of -2.5 or less with the individual having sustained either – a hip fracture or a spinal fracture (in the previous 24 months) OR – 2 minimal trauma fractures (with one fracture occurring in the previous 24 months). Adults matching this criteria can receive this treatment on the PBS.

PBS criteria as a second-line osteoporosis treatment  The PBS subsidy is for people with severe osteoporosis when other osteoporosis medication has not worked. This is determined by – very low bone density T-score -3 or less, with – a minimum of two fractures, with -one of the fractures occurring whilst on another type of osteoporosis medication. Adults matching this criteria can receive this treatment on the PBS.

This important new announcement expands access to anabolic treatment on the PBS for the first-line and second-line treatment of osteoporosis. 

This is only the second anabolic treatment listed on the PBS for first line treatment of osteoporosis, and follows listing  of romosozumab (brand name Evenity) in Nov 2024.