Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) Program in Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) 012-18051102
Expand allThis document outlines details of PBS-subsidised biological medicines for patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
AS and listing dates
AS is an inflammatory disease of the joints in the spine.
Listing dates:
- infliximab - 1 August 2004
- etanercept - 1 April 2005
- adalimumab - 1 March 2007
- golimumab - 1 August 2010
- certolizumab pegol - 1 September 2014
- secukinumab - 1 October 2016
- ixekizumab - 1 December 2020
- upadacitinib - 1 October 2021
- tofacitinib - 1 August 2023
- bimekizumab - 1 October 2024
See Written Authority Required Drugs for more details.
Treatment specifics
A break in treatment cycles is measured:
- from the date of last approval for PBS-subsidised biological medicine treatment in the most recent cycle
- to the date of the first application for initial treatment with a biological medicine under the new treatment cycle
There is no limit to the number of treatment cycles.
See Treatment breaks and failures for full details.
Enquiries
Transfer enquiries about prescription arrangements to PBS Complex Drugs Programs and choose the option relevant to the condition treated.
The Resources page contains:
- application forms
- calculation sheets
- contact details
- restriction and item codes
- FAQs from Service Officers
- the PBS schedule
- Services Australia website link
Related links
Online Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Authorities System (OPA System)
Process telephone Authority approval application
Processing and National Demand Allocation (PaNDA)
Processing Complex Authority Required Listings
Processing Written Authority requests
Written Authority Required Drugs