Light plane crashes in Queensland
A new drug that is the first of its kind for cancer is now on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
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West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Kieran Le Plastrier: Quit moralising and embrace the potential of weight loss drugs
It's rare in medicine to witness a single class of drugs redefine the boundaries of treatment across multiple chronic diseases. Yet that's precisely what we're seeing with GLP-1 receptor agonists — commonly known by brand names including Ozempic and Mounjaro. Initially developed as a treatment for diabetes, these drugs are now proving to be nothing short of transformative for millions of people worldwide. But while their potential is vast, our access to them remains frustratingly narrow. There's a common misconception that these drugs are only a tool for weight loss and diabetes management. But that's far from the limit of their potential. These medications are showing promise in reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, liver disease, and even dementia. They're also being explored as tools to combat addiction — blunting the brain's reward system and helping people overcome dependencies on alcohol, nicotine, and other substances. We are standing at the edge of a paradigm shift in how we treat chronic disease. Yet in Australia, access to these drugs is largely restricted to people with uncontrolled diabetes at a subsidised cost under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. While they can be prescribed off-label for other conditions, such as obesity, without the PBS subsidy the cost can be anything from $55 to $130 a dose, which most people simply can't afford. Obesity is not a personal moral failing. It is a complex, multi-factorial condition driven by genetics, environment, and a society that promotes sedentary lifestyles and calorie-dense foods. We live in an obesogenic world, and blaming individuals for their biology is both unjust and ineffective. The UK's NHS has already recognised this, moving to subsidise GLP-1 drugs for people with obesity to reduce long-term disease burden. Australia must follow suit. The cost of inaction — measured in heart attacks, strokes, hospital admissions, and lives lost — is far greater than the cost of these medications. Now, these drugs are not a silver bullet. They work best as part of a holistic approach that includes dietary support, physical activity, and psychological care. And as for every powerful therapeutic drug, risks exist and must be carefully considered and managed under the care of expert health practitioner But they offer something we've never had before: a safer, effective, and scalable way to intervene in the metabolic cascade that underpins so many of our modern diseases. We need to stop treating these drugs as luxury items for the wealthy or as quick fixes for vanity. They are powerful tools for prevention and healing. It's time our health system caught up with the science. Dr Kieran Le Plastrier is a GP and Assistant Professor of General Practice at Bond University
West Australian
3 days ago
- West Australian
Testosterone cream developed in WA revolutionises treatment for menopausal women but at treble the price
A testosterone cream developed in WA is revolutionising the way doctors treat a common side effect of menopause. But the medication is not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and costs three times more than the men's version of the product. Androfeme is the only testosterone cream in Australia approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to treat hypo-active sexual desire dysfunction — a common side effect of menopause responsible for a distressing loss of libido. Doctors and pharmacists have labelled medication a game changer but it's inaccessible to many women as it's not listed on the PBS, costing $100 for a tube that lasts 100 days. The equivalent treatment for men is on the PBS and costs less than a third of the price at $31.60. When mum-of-two Jane Capelli turned 40, she experienced hot flushes, insomnia, irritability, headaches, and zero libido. 'I didnt feel like my old self, something was missing,' she said. Her hormone levels plummeted while she was in the midst of perimenopause. Her doctor prescribed hormone replacement therapy but it was the testosterone cream, Androfeme, that made the biggest difference. 'I feel like my old self again, energy and clarity have improved, the fog feels like its lifting,' she said. Doctors hope Androfeme will be added to the PBS this year to help women like Ms Capelli. Lawley Pharmaceuticals pharmacist Michael Buckley said the product was a 'game changer' for women. 'Up until then women didn't have a female specific testosterone treatment and if they were going to be treated they were forced to use male products that couldn't be measured easily,' she said. General practitioner Lucy Caratti said testosterone had a huge impact on women's health. 'Testosterone is a huge player in women and it's been very much overlooked, been thought of as very much a male hormone, but we know its effects on the brain, heart, bones and of course the libido,' she said. 'Women are already paying quite a lot for their estrogen and progesterone so being able to subsidise some of the testosterone will make a really big difference for people to be able to afford it.' The company behind Androfeme is conducting trials to measure the impact of testosterone cream on other common menopause side effects including bone loss, loss of muscle strength and brain fog. If the results are positive, the cream could eventually be used to treat those symptoms.
9 News
7 days ago
- 9 News
Light plane crashes in Queensland
Cancer drug that offers rare cancer sufferers hope is listed on PBS A new drug that is the first of its kind for cancer is now on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
