‘Life-saving’ drug for people with opioid dependency to be pulled from Australia by end of year

A “life-saving” drug heavily subsidised for Australians living with opioid dependency will be pulled from the market by the end of the year, causing alarm among doctors and pharmacists. US pharmaceutical company Indivior confirmed the marketing and sale of the long-acting injectable prescription opioid Sublocade would end from 31 December, with a company spokesperson describing it as a “commercial decision”. It comes less than a month after AstraZeneca said it would remove from the pharmaceutical benefits scheme (PBS) and private market the breast cancer and endometriosis medicine Zoladex – a monthly 3.6mg implant – similarly citing a lack of commercial viability. The federal health minister, Mark Butler, said last month drugs pricing was in an enormous state of flux amid US policy changes. “Indivior intends to work with the appropriate authorities and experts in Australia to ensure an orderly transition that minimises disruption,” the spokesperson told Guardian Australia.