Revolutionary cancer treatment on agenda

A new cancer treatment that could "cure" leukaemia is being examined for safety and effectiveness in the hope of it being widely used in Australia.

Australia has the chance to lead the way for a potentially revolutionary cancer treatment that could "cure" leukaemia.

Health Minister Greg Hunt says the "early signs are good" for a new treatment called CAR-T.

The immunotherapy, which is being used in the United States, uses a patient's own blood to fight their cancer.

"Australia now has the prospect of helping lead the world with a new treatment called CAR-T which cannot just keep patients going, but can potentially cure them," Mr Hunt told reporters on Friday.

The Medical Services Advisory Committee will be examining the safety and effectiveness of the treatment during the next month.

If the committee approves the treatment, Mr Hunt said it was vital to make it affordable enough.

"The advice is very positive but they still have to do all of their assessments. But if they approve it, we will implement it," Mr Hunt said.

"I think what you see is we have a partnership between the Commonwealth and the states to ensure that if this therapy is approved, the patients that need it can get it.

"I won't pre-empt the timing of the medical authorities but my job is to help them to produce this outcome as soon as possible."


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: AAP

Tags

Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world