Pomolide (Pomalidomide)

pomalidomide 2 mg capsule, 21 · ORAL · PBS code 13811X

AUTHORITY_REQUIRED

What it costs

AU$470.72 PBS-determined price per 21 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: 2024-01-01.
• Repeats: 0.
• PBS program: HS.

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

Multiple myeloma

Initial treatment - dual therapy in combination with dexamethasone

The treatment must form part of dual combination therapy limited to: (i) this drug, (ii) dexamethasone; AND

Patient must have undergone or be ineligible for a primary stem cell transplant; AND

Patient must have experienced treatment failure with lenalidomide, unless contraindicated or not tolerated according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Product Information; AND

Patient must have experienced treatment failure with bortezomib, unless contraindicated or not tolerated according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved Product Information.

Bortezomib treatment failure is the absence of achieving at least a partial response or as progressive disease during treatment or within 6 months of discontinuing treatment with bortezomib. Lenalidomide treatment failure is progressive disease during treatment or within 6 months of discontinuing treatment with lenalidomide.

Progressive disease is defined as at least 1 of the following:

(a) at least a 25% increase and an absolute increase of at least 5 g per L in serum M protein (monoclonal protein); or

(b) at least a 25% increase in 24-hour urinary light chain M protein excretion, and an absolute increase of at least 200 mg per 24 hours; or

(c) in oligo-secretory and non-secretory myeloma patients only, at least a 50% increase in the difference between involved free light chain and uninvolved free light chain; or

(d) at least a 25% relative increase and at least a 10% absolute increase in plasma cells in a bone marrow aspirate or on biopsy; or

(e) an increase in the size or number of lytic bone lesions (not including compression fractures); or

(f) at least a 25% increase in the size of an existing or the development of a new soft tissue plasmacytoma (determined by clinical examination or diagnostic imaging); or

(g) development of hypercalcaemia (corrected serum calcium greater than 2.65 mmol per L not attributable to any other cause).

Oligo-secretory and non-secretory patients are defined as having active disease with less than 10 g per L serum M protein.

The authority application must be made via the Online PBS Authorities System (real time assessment), or in writing via HPOS form upload or mail and must include:

(1) details (date, unique identifying number/code or provider number) of the reports demonstrating the patient has failed treatment with lenalidomide, including the dates of treatment or the details of the contraindication to or details of the nature and severity of the intolerance to lenalidomide according to the relevant TGA-approved Product Information; and

(2) details (date, unique identifying number/code or provider number) of the reports demonstrating the patient has failed treatment with bortezomib, including the dates of treatment or the details of the contraindication to or details of the nature and severity of the intolerance to bortezomib according to the relevant TGA-approved Product Information.

All reports must be documented in the patient's medical records.

If the application is submitted through HPOS form upload or mail, it must include:

(i) A completed authority prescription form; and

(ii) A completed authority application form relevant to the indication and treatment phase (the latest version is located on the website specified in the Administrative Advice).

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

Multiple myeloma

Continuing treatment - dual therapy in combination with dexamethasone

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

Patient must not have developed disease progression while receiving PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition; AND

The treatment must form part of dual combination therapy limited to: (i) this drug, (ii) dexamethasone.