Life-changing medications for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in Australia—Ocrevus, Kesimpta, and Lemtrada—will remain subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) as the government addresses a pricing dispute with global pharmaceutical companies.

Health Minister Mark Butler announced on Thursday, July 16th, 2026, that these drugs, which manage MS symptoms and related conditions, will stay listed on the PBS while an expedited review is completed by the end of the year. This decision follows concerns that patients might have to pay tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket after manufacturers Roche, Novartis, and Sanofi Genzyme declined a request to reduce prices by up to 50%.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) convened last week to evaluate the pricing impasse and subsequently advised Minister Butler on key points. "The experts confirmed what the MS community has told us: that there are clinical benefits from continuing to list Ocrevus, Kesimpta and Lemtrada on the PBS to make sure these drugs continue to be available for people that need them at the PBS price," Butler said.

PBAC also recommended a rapid review to better understand patient usage of these drugs and to ensure subsidy listings align with current evidence. Minister Butler accepted this advice, committing to work directly with the pharmaceutical companies during the review process.

Minister Butler emphasized the importance of these medications, stating, "I am very clear about the difference they are making to Australians living with MS."

The outcome has been welcomed by the MS community. Mr Greenland remarked, "This is an incredibly important and deeply reassuring outcome for thousands of Australians living with multiple sclerosis (MS), their families, carers and clinicians, who have faced significant uncertainty about the future of their treatment access."

Sources