What next for PBS rebate system amid constitutional breaches, disputed claims, and global pressure?

We unpack the growing tension inside the PBS, with soaring rebates, unconstitutional benefit payments, unreconciled claims and the attempts to claw money back from companies. We zoom out to ask what it all means for the future of medicine access in Australia, especially with the potential conflict between the US 'MFN' push and a deeply status quo-biased system.

U.S. President Donald Trump has declared “an end to global freeloading” in medicine prices, announcing a sweeping deal with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that cuts the cost of several of the world’s most popular medicines for American patients.

In a blunt public intervention that could have far-reaching consequences, including in Australia and New Zealand, the US Ambassador to the UK has warned that pharmaceutical companies may halt further investments or even shut down operations in the country unless it increases the prices it pays for medicines.

Pfizer recently increased its bid to around US$8.1 billion, and has effectively matched Novo Nordisk's US$10 billion in the past 24 hours. It has been reported that the Danish company has now also raised its offer again.

Sanofi Australia has concluded its annual 'We Volunteer campaign', with staff across the country dedicating over 400 hours in October to support leading community and environmental organisations.

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has announced the establishment of the First Nations Pharmacy Network, a landmark initiative aimed at strengthening culturally safe healthcare and improving access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Speaking with BioPharmaDispatch, Andy Wong, Head of Innovation and Technology (Life and Health Sciences) at InvestHK, said the city is evolving from its traditional financial base to a more innovation-driven economy.

Senior representatives from the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (Queensland Branch) have toured one of Australia’s newest and most advanced medicine distribution facilities, gaining a firsthand look at the operations that underpin the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain.

The National Disability Insurance Agency has released its 2024–25 Annual Report, confirming record participant numbers and total scheme spending, alongside early signs that cost growth is beginning to moderate under ongoing reform efforts.

Companies with patented PBS-listed medicines likely now repay more in rebates than they retain in actual payments. To make matters worse, the annual report suggests they may have been repaying more than necessary due to the unconstitutional claiming of PBS benefits for some medicines reimbursed under the Highly Specialised Drugs Program.

When it comes to artificial intelligence, the biggest obstacle facing Australia’s pharmaceutical sector isn’t a lack of algorithms or expertise. It is the culture.

Pfizer has launched a second lawsuit against Novo Nordisk and takeover target Metsera. Pfizer is accusing the Danish company of using an anticompetitive takeover bid of Metsera to maintain its strong position in the fast-growing weight loss therapy market.

Australian pharmacy leader Professor Trent Twomey has been appointed President of the World Pharmacy Council, succeeding Doug Hoey of the United States, who has served in the role since 2021.

“This new supply of Methylphenidate Sandoz XR comes at a crucial time for patients and healthcare providers,” said Natalie Armstrong, Head of Marketing, Sandoz Australia.

A new national initiative to accelerate vaccine and infectious disease innovation in Australia will officially launch on 17 November 2025, marking a significant milestone for the country’s translational health ecosystem.

According to the health department's annual report, companies paid a record $6.8 billion in rebates for PBS-listed medicines in the 2024-25 financial year. Net spending on the program increased at a rate below inflation.

Two recent examples, newborn screening and continuous glucose monitoring devices, highlight the issue. In both cases, the Medical Services Advisory Committee did not just disregard patient input. The committee constructed its own patient perspective, based on undisclosed considerations, that contradicted the input from actual patients.

Pharmac Chief Executive Natalie McMurtry said, “The Reset Programme will support Pharmac to be a more outward-focused and transparent organisation that values and actively engages with consumers and stakeholders."

The Prize is an initiative by Novo Nordisk to recognise and support outstanding female-identifying scientists in Australia. The Prize aims to celebrate excellence in scientific research and inspire the next generation of women.

The Medical Services Advisory Committee has effectively set aside a recommendation from a parliamentary inquiry and ignored consumer input calling for the expansion of access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring devices.

Reform efforts can struggle because they focus on health systems at their strongest point rather than their weakest. Framing is a pernicious tool used to justify delays and denials. We argue that the uptake of GLP-1 therapies in the US is delivering remarkable results, and that we need to apply the lessons from that experience in Australia, challenging institutional narratives and reframing the public debate to focus on public health benefits.

"We welcome the Government’s decision to list the dual immunotherapy combination of IMJUDO and IMFINZI, which around 900 Australians living with the most common form of advanced liver cancer may now be able to access,” said Ben McDonald, Country President of AstraZeneca Australia and New Zealand.