Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker lobbies for live-saving cancer drugs
Published in Herald Sun. Author: GRANT McARTHUR
CANCER survivor Ron Walker is crusading to help other Australians finally get access to life-saving drugs.
The Grand Prix chairman has been personally lobbying his mate – Prime Minister-elect Tony Abbott – to improve access to new-generation cancer therapies caught up in red tape.
Doctors and patients want to get access to at least six wonder drugs, to treat lung, breast and other cancers, but it takes up to six years for cancer drugs to be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
It takes an average of more than 2 ½ years for a cancer drug to be listed on the PBS, dooming patients who can’t afford up to $10,500 a month for treatment that would otherwise cost $36.
After a remarkable turnaround since treatment with an experimental drug in a US trial, Mr Walker is pleading with Mr Abbott to overhaul the clinical trial process.
“I am a very grateful person having fluked a part of the trial … I will be doing everything I can to help other people get access. I have been very fortunateand I will do everything I can to look after my fellow citizen who has melanoma in getting access to new drugs," Mr Walker said.
The prominent Liberal Party figure has joined cancer specialists demanding an overhaul to the way cancer drugs are listed on the PBS and a new fund to fast-track lifesaving cancer medications.
Mr Walker said he was confident the new PM could help.
“He and I have had discussions and he understands exactly what has to be done – with one eye on the economy and the Budget, and the other eye on those people who desperately need access to these new drugs," Mr Walker said.
After a melanoma was removed from his face two years ago, Mr Walker learned this year the cancer had spread to his lungs.
He has been treated by an international team of professors and has been infused in the US with breakthrough drug lambrolizumab.
He said he now has only one tumour, which he hopes will be gone by next month.
An Access Economics report found Australians’ access to cancer drugs lags well behind other developed nations’. The time to approve a subsidy has blown out from 14 months in 2003 to 31 months in 2012.
He said he now has only one tumour, which he hopes will be gone by next month.
An Access Economics report found Australians’ access to cancer drugs lags well behind other developed nations’. The time to approve a subsidy has blown out from 14 months in 2003 to 31 months in 2012.
Sorely needed drugs are:
EVEROLIMUS, subsidised in 30 other countries but rejected three times for the PBS, costing $5400 a month.
VEMURAFENIB, a melanoma drug subsidised in 20 nations; cost, $10,500 a month.
PANITUMUMAB, twice dismissed for the PBS, costing $4800 per cycle.
ERLOTINIB, twice rejected for the PBS, costing $3550 for a month.
The Cancer Drugs Alliance has called for the new federal government to urgently review how cancer drugs are listed on the PBS and set up a fund to allow access to drugs under evaluation.
Mr Walker’s oncologist, Prof Grant McArthur from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, said:"Our country is a prosperous country – we can afford to look after people at a world’s-best practice level."
grant.mcarthur@news.com.au
Note – Professor Grant McArthur is no relation to Herald Sun reporter Grant McArthur