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The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has given the tick of approval to a new medication that aims to relieve the symptoms of endometriosis.
It’s the first treatment to receive the green light from the TGA for the relief of endometriosis symptoms in 13 years.
The condition affects one in nine Australian women, with 15 out of every 1000 hospitalisations among 15-44 year old’s being related to the disease.
Endometriosis is a condition that occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, leading to inflammation, pain, scarring and fertility issues.
A study by The University of Queensland’s School of Public Health also found that women were more likely to experience mental health problems, back pain, joint pain, bowel and urinary conditions, as well as severe fatigue, insomnia, allergies, heart palpitations and headaches if they have endometriosis.
At this stage, there is no cure for the condition and its often debilitating symptoms, with sufferers generally relying on pain relief, hormone therapy and surgery to treat their symptoms.
The new TGA approved drug, Ryeqo, is supplied by pharmaceutical company Gedeon Richter Australia, and is the first oral tablet to be approved by the TGA for endometriosis symptom relief.
The drug is currently available in Australia for the treatment of symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. The latest approval comes after the TGA has found enough evidence that the medication will be able to relieve pain and reduce excess tissue growth.
While this is good news for endometriosis sufferers, access to the medication may be complicated by its price point.
At this stage, Ryeqo is not eligible for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidy—the government initiative that reduces the cost of prescription medication for Australians.
This means, a monthly prescription for the drug may cost patients more than $135.
However, Gedeon Ritcher has stated that the company has made a submission to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC).
If the submission is accepted, we can expect the cost of the medication to lower.
