This November, MS Australia will bring together researchers, clinicians, people living with MS, industry partners and policy leaders for our National Symposium on MS Medications: 30 Years and Beyond. The symposium will mark three decades since disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) first became available to Australians living with MS.
More importantly, it will provide an opportunity to reflect on one of the most significant advances in the history of MS care. Thirty years ago, the outlook for many people diagnosed with MS was very different. Since the first DMTs became available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in 1996, treatment options have expanded dramatically. These therapies have helped reduce relapses, slow disability progression and enable many people with MS to remain active in work, family and community life for longer.
The symposium is not just a celebration of past achievements. It is also an opportunity to examine the challenges that remain ahead. Despite incredible progress, the job is far from done.
While treatment outcomes have improved substantially, many people continue to experience disease progression despite treatment, and effective options for progressive forms of MS remain limited. Researchers are now focused not only on controlling inflammation but also on preventing progression, protecting nerve cells and repairing damage. These are the breakthroughs that will shape progress in the coming years.
The symposium also comes at a critical time for the MS community. As many will know, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) is currently undertaking a rapid review of PBS-listed medicines for relapsing-remitting MS. The review is considering how treatments are used, whether current PBS arrangements reflect contemporary clinical practice and guidelines, and how treatment access can best support people living with MS into the future.
MSA has been actively engaged throughout this process, providing evidence, participating in stakeholder consultations and advocating strongly for the interests of people living with MS. Our position remains clear: MS is a complex and highly individual condition, and treatment decisions must be guided by evidence, clinical expertise and the circumstances of each person, not by a one-size-fits-all approach.
Access to a broad range of treatment options matters. Different therapies offer different benefits, risks and modes of administration. What works well for one person may not be appropriate for another. Treatment needs can also change over time. Preserving choice is therefore fundamental to delivering personalised, evidence-based care.
We are also advocating for continued access to high-efficacy therapies as first-line treatment where clinically appropriate. Contemporary Australian and New Zealand treatment guidelines increasingly recognise the value of early intervention with highly effective treatments to reduce long-term disability outcomes. Australians with MS must continue to have access to the treatments that best meet their clinical needs, without unnecessary barriers or delays.
Australia is widely regarded as having one of the strongest MS treatment landscapes in the world. Maintaining that position requires a commitment to evidence-based policy, meaningful consumer engagement and a recognition that treatment access is an investment in future health, independence and participation.
A draft report from PBAC is expected before the end of the year, making our Symposium incredibly timely. The task before us now is to ensure that the progress we have made is protected and that future advances – and there are many in the pipeline, including BTK Inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapy – remain accessible to the people who need them most.
