In a huge boost for thousands of Australians living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), a revolutionary twice-yearly injection has officially joined the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, dramatically cutting costs and making treatment far more accessible.
The newly listed subcutaneous form of Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), administered in a simple 10-minute appointment twice a year, has tumbled from a staggering $16,500 to just $31.60 for general patients and $7.70 for concession holders. A further reduction to $25.60 for general patients is locked in for January 1.
Unlike traditional infusion treatments, the injection works by targeting B cells, the immune cells that can turn on the body and damage nerve protection. It is the first of its kind in Australia designed to slow physical decline and reduce the number of relapses experienced by those with relapsing-remitting MS.
For Ashleigh “Ash” Irwin, the change is life-altering. The clinical dietitian and familiar face to TV viewers after her appearance on My Kitchen Rules first noticed something was wrong less than a year after welcoming her daughter. What initially felt like typical post-partum fatigue evolved into numbness and tingling that swept across her left side, eventually leading to her August 2023 diagnosis.
“That first year was the hardest; it was incredibly tricky navigating motherhood and my MS diagnosis,” Ms Irwin said. “When I was first diagnosed, you fear the unknown. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t fear how it might limit me, how I might one day need a wheelchair.”
Scans later revealed more than 20 lesions across both sides of her brain, confirming the need for immediate treatment.
Since then, Ash has had five Ocrevus infusions and is now considered clinically stable. The new injection format represents not just medical progress, but the gift of time.
“This PBS listing will revolutionise MS treatment for working mums like me,” she told Yahoo News. “As a busy mum with a private practice and hospital job, it’s challenging being hooked up to an infusion machine for eight hours. Having access to a quick and painless twice-yearly injection will be amazing. It will give me back so much time,” she says.
“I’ve changed and adapted my mindset. A diagnosis doesn’t define you; how you choose to live defines you. I choose to see the positives in what my body can do.”
Relapsing-remitting MS continues to be a leading cause of disability across the country, with close to 12,000 Australians currently supported through the NDIS. Research from MS Australia and the Menzies Institute shows the number affected has risen by 77 per cent since 2010.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler says the decision to expand access to Ocrevus reflects a broader commitment to easing the financial load on patients.
“The new PBS listing is part of the government’s commitment to make medicines cheaper and more accessible for all Australians,” he said.
For Ash and thousands more, the listing is much more than a policy update. It is renewed confidence, greater independence, and a chance to live life with fewer limits.
Images: Instagram
