Bristol-Myers Squibb

“Bristol Myers Squibb supports efforts to improve the safe and timely access to investigational medicines for patients facing a serious or life-threating illness and who have no further treatment options or a clinical trial available to them. We believe our current approach to Pre-Approval Access, as outlined above, is consistent with the objectives of the Right to Try Act. Requests for Pre-Approval Access to Bristol Myers Squibb investigational medicines should continue to be made through the treating physician by visiting Bristol Myers Squibb Pre-Approval Access page.”

Prior to approval by the TGA, most medicines are not available to patients. In certain cases, there is a regulatory process – known as a Special Access Scheme – which enables doctors to request an unapproved medicine on behalf of their patients once the patient has exhausted all other approved treatment options. More information can be found here: https://www.tga.gov.au/form/special-access-scheme Some pharmaceutical companies also offer Patient Access Programs for medicines that are approved by the TGA before they are listed on the PBS. In these programs, patient eligibility is determined by the company and there may be a cost to patients. Only doctors can request medicines on behalf of their patients. Pharmaceutical companies in Australia are guided by a Code of Conduct and are limited in what information they can share directly with patients about these programs.

Conditions: Chronic Hepatitis C