The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) is to consider further new hepatitis C medicines at its July 2015 meeting.

This is in addition to the current medicines recently recommended for listing but pending Australia Government approval.

New medicines to be considered in July include:

• Paritaprevir with ritonavir, ombitasvir and dasabuvir (Viekira Pak®) - for the treatment of hepatitis C, genotype 1
• Paritaprevir with ritonavir, ombitasvir, dasabuvir and ribavirin (Viekira Pak-RBV®) for the treatment of hepatitis C, genotype 1

Existing medicines being considered for additional uses:

• Simeprevir (Olysio®) - submission is for use in an interferon-free combination with sofosbuvir for the treatment of hepatitis C, genotype 1
• Ribavirin (Ibavyr®) - as per submission to March meeting with revisions.

Hepatitis Australia will provide more specific information about the Australian application when possible.

Information about new treatments and updates on the approval process is available from the Hepatitis Australia website http://www.hepatitisaustralia.com/treatment-for-hep-c/