PBS updates

Glivec (Imatinib)

imatinib 100 mg tablet, 60 · ORAL · PBS code 11787J

STREAMLINED

What it costs

AU$80.03 PBS-determined price per 60 units

Most patients pay only the standard PBS co-payment, not the full price above — up to AU$25.00 per script (general) or AU$7.70 (concession/Safety Net) in 2026. The figure above is what the PBS pays the pharmacy; the Australian Government subsidises the rest. Always confirm the current amount with your pharmacist.

  • • First listed on the PBS: 2019-09-01.
  • • Repeats: 2.
  • • PBS program: GE.
Eligibility criteria for subsidised access

The following is the government's own wording from the PBS Schedule, shown unchanged.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Malignant gastrointestinal stromal tumour


Continuing treatment


Patient must have previously received PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition; AND

The treatment must be given at a dose not exceeding 600 mg per day; AND

Must be treated by a medical practitioner; or

Must be treated by a nurse practitioner where both of the following are occurring: (i) patient care is being shared with a medical practitioner, (ii) the prescription continues existing therapy with this medicine.

Patients who have failed to respond or are intolerant to imatinib are no longer eligible to receive PBS-subsidised imatinib

Patients with metastatic/unresectable disease who achieve a response to treatment at an imatinib dose of 400 mg per day should be continued at this dose and assessed for response at regular intervals. Patients who fail to achieve a response to 400 mg per day may have their dose increased to 600 mg per day. Authority applications for doses higher than 600 mg per day will not be approved.

A response to treatment is defined as a decrease from baseline in the sum of the products of the perpendicular diameters of all measurable lesions of 50% or greater. (Response definition based on the Southwest Oncology Group standard criteria, see Demetri et al. N Engl J Med 2002; 347: 472-80.)

Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Limited ABN 18 004 244 160

Not medical advice. Voxsanity republishes public PBS data in plain English. PBS listing status and criteria can change; always confirm current subsidised availability with your doctor or pharmacist.

Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), © Commonwealth of Australia. Data used and redistributed under permission; not modified from its original wording where displayed verbatim.