PBS updates

Brenzys (Etanercept)

etanercept 50 mg/mL injection, 4 x 1 mL pen devices · INJECTION · PBS code 9462B

AUTHORITY_REQUIRED

What it costs

AU$743.6 PBS-determined price per 1 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: 2017-04-01.
  • • Repeats: 5.
  • • 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

Severe chronic plaque psoriasis


First continuing treatment, Whole body


Patient must have received this drug as their most recent course of PBS-subsidised biological medicine treatment for this condition; AND

Patient must have demonstrated an adequate response to treatment with this drug; AND

The treatment must be as systemic monotherapy (other than methotrexate); AND

Patient must not receive more than 24 weeks of treatment under this restriction; AND

Patient must be at least 18 years of age; AND

Must be treated by a dermatologist.

An adequate response to treatment is defined as:

A Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score which is reduced by 75% or more, or is sustained at this level, when compared with the baseline value for this treatment cycle.

The authority application must be made in writing and must include:

(a) details of the proposed prescription(s); and

(b) a completed Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis PBS Authority Application - Supporting Information Form which includes the completed Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) calculation sheet including the date of the assessment of the patient's condition.

The most recent PASI assessment must be no more than 4 weeks old at the time of application.

Approval will be based on the PASI assessment of response to the most recent course of treatment with this drug.

An application for the continuing treatment must be accompanied with the assessment of response conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks from cessation of the most recent course of treatment. This will enable ongoing treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment.

Where a response assessment is not conducted within the required timeframe, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug, unless the patient has experienced a serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment.

If a patient fails to demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug under this restriction they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition within this treatment cycle.

A patient may re-trial this drug after a minimum of 5 years have elapsed between the date the last prescription for a PBS-subsidised biological medicine was approved in this cycle and the date of the first application under a new cycle under the Initial 3 treatment restriction.

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

Severe chronic plaque psoriasis


First continuing treatment, Face, hand, foot


Patient must have received this drug as their most recent course of PBS-subsidised biological medicine treatment for this condition; AND

Patient must have demonstrated an adequate response to treatment with this drug; AND

The treatment must be as systemic monotherapy (other than methotrexate); AND

Patient must not receive more than 24 weeks of treatment under this restriction; AND

Patient must be at least 18 years of age; AND

Must be treated by a dermatologist.

An adequate response to treatment is defined as the plaque or plaques assessed prior to biological treatment showing:

(i) a reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) symptom subscores for all 3 of erythema, thickness and scaling, to slight or better, or sustained at this level, as compared to the baseline values; or

(ii) a reduction by 75% or more in the skin area affected, or sustained at this level, as compared to the baseline value for this treatment cycle.

The authority application must be made in writing and must include:

(a) details of the proposed prescription(s); and

(b) a completed Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis PBS Authority Application - Supporting Information Form which includes the completed Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) calculation sheet and face, hand, foot area diagrams including the date of the assessment of the patient's condition.

The most recent PASI assessment must be no more than 1 month old at the time of application.

Approval will be based on the PASI assessment of response to the most recent course of treatment with this drug.

The PASI assessment for first continuing or subsequent continuing treatment must be performed on the same affected area assessed at baseline.

An application for the continuing treatment must be accompanied with the assessment of response conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks from cessation of the most recent course of treatment. This will enable ongoing treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment.

Where a response assessment is not conducted within the required timeframe, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug, unless the patient has experienced a serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment.

If a patient fails to demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug under this restriction they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition within this treatment cycle.

A patient may re-trial this drug after a minimum of 5 years have elapsed between the date the last prescription for a PBS-subsidised biological medicine was approved in this cycle and the date of the first application under a new cycle under the Initial 3 treatment restriction.

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

Severe chronic plaque psoriasis


Continuing treatment, Whole body or Continuing treatment, Face, hand, foot - balance of supply


Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug under the first continuing treatment, Whole body restriction to complete 24 weeks treatment; or

Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug under the first continuing treatment, Face, hand, foot restriction to complete 24 weeks treatment; or

Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug under the subsequent continuing treatment Authority Required (in writing), Whole body restriction to complete 24 weeks treatment; or

Patient must have received insufficient therapy with this drug under the subsequent continuing treatment Authority Required (in writing), Face, hand, foot restriction to complete 24 weeks treatment; AND

The treatment must provide no more than the balance of up to 24 weeks treatment available under the above restrictions; AND

The treatment must be as systemic monotherapy (other than methotrexate); AND

Patient must be at least 18 years of age; AND

Must be treated by a dermatologist.

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

Severe chronic plaque psoriasis


Subsequent continuing treatment, whole body


Patient must have previously received PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition under the First continuing treatment restriction; AND

Patient must have demonstrated an adequate response to treatment with this drug; AND

The treatment must be as systemic monotherapy (other than methotrexate); AND

Patient must not receive more than 24 weeks of treatment per subsequent continuing treatment course authorised under this restriction; AND

Patient must be at least 18 years of age; AND

Must be treated by a dermatologist.

An adequate response to treatment is defined as:

A Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score which is reduced by 75% or more, or is sustained at this level, when compared with the baseline value for this treatment cycle.

The authority application must be made in writing and must include:

(1) details of the proposed prescription(s); and

(2) 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) which includes the completed current Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) calculation sheet including the date of the assessment of the patient's condition.

An application for the continuing treatment must be accompanied with the assessment of response conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks from cessation of the most recent course of treatment. This will enable ongoing treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment.

The most recent PASI assessment must be no more than 4 weeks old at the time of application.

Where a response assessment is not conducted within the required timeframe, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug, unless the patient has experienced a serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment.

If a patient fails to demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug under this restriction they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition within this treatment cycle.

A patient may re-trial this drug after a minimum of 5 years have elapsed between the date the last prescription for a PBS-subsidised biological medicine was approved in this cycle and the date of the first application under a new cycle under the Initial 3 treatment restriction.

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

Severe chronic plaque psoriasis


Subsequent continuing treatment, Face, hand, foot


Patient must have previously received PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition under the First continuing treatment restriction; AND

Patient must have demonstrated an adequate response to treatment with this drug; AND

The treatment must be as systemic monotherapy (other than methotrexate); AND

Patient must not receive more than 24 weeks of treatment per subsequent continuing treatment course authorised under this restriction; AND

Patient must be at least 18 years of age; AND

Must be treated by a dermatologist.

An adequate response to treatment is defined as the plaque or plaques assessed prior to biological treatment showing:

(i) a reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) symptom subscores for all 3 of erythema, thickness and scaling, to slight or better, or sustained at this level, as compared to the baseline values; or

(ii) a reduction by 75% or more in the skin area affected, or sustained at this level, as compared to the baseline value for this treatment cycle.

The authority application must be made in writing and must include:

(a) details of the proposed prescription(s); and

(b) a completed Severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis PBS Authority Application - Supporting Information Form which includes the completed Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) calculation sheet including the date of the assessment of the patient's condition.

An application for the continuing treatment must be accompanied with the assessment of response conducted following a minimum of 12 weeks of therapy and no later than 4 weeks from cessation of the most recent course of treatment. This will enable ongoing treatment for those who meet the continuing restriction for PBS-subsidised treatment.

Approval will be based on the PASI assessment of response to the most recent course of treatment with this drug.

The PASI assessment for continuing treatment must be performed on the same affected area as assessed at baseline.

The most recent PASI assessment must be no more than 4 weeks old at the time of application.

Where a response assessment is not conducted within the required timeframe, the patient will be deemed to have failed to respond to treatment with this drug, unless the patient has experienced a serious adverse reaction of a severity resulting in the necessity for permanent withdrawal of treatment.

If a patient fails to demonstrate a response to treatment with this drug under this restriction they will not be eligible to receive further PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this condition within this treatment cycle.

A patient may re-trial this drug after a minimum of 5 years have elapsed between the date the last prescription for a PBS-subsidised biological medicine was approved in this cycle and the date of the first application under a new cycle under the Initial 3 treatment restriction.

Sponsor: Organon Pharma Pty Ltd ABN 54 637 107 512

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.