Breast cancer treatment to be removed from PBS, affecting thousands of breast cancer patients
21/05/2026
Breast Cancer Trials is aware that AstraZeneca Pty Ltd has made a commercial decision to remove the goserelin 3.6mg implant (Zoladex™), from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme on 1 November 2026. Goserelin is a monthly injection that supresses ovarian function and is commonly used to treat hormone receptor positive breast cancer and to prevent early menopause in women undergoing chemotherapy.
Goserelin has become part of standard practice after the benefits were proven in clinical trials that Breast Cancer Trials participated in, including POEMS, SOFT and TEXT. Breast Cancer Trials Member Professor Prue Francis, from the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, developed and led the international SOFT and TEXT clinical trials studying ovarian suppression, which have led to changes in international practice in the management of premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer Professor Kelly Phillips, also from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, led Breast Cancer Trials and European participation in the POEMS trial studying goserelin to prevent early menopause and protect future fertility in young women undergoing chemotherapy.
Currently, in Australia there are no registered or PBS listed alternatives to monthly goserelin for hormone receptor positive breast cancer or prevention of early menopause. Other monthly injections are available, and work is underway with the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) to ensure one of these alternative monthly injections is added to the PBS as soon as possible. Astra Zeneca is also planning to register a slow-release version of goserelin (10.8mg implant) that is administered every 12 weeks, and this will be a good alternative option for some people.
Reassuringly, AstraZeneca has announced the monthly 3.6mg goserelin implant will continue to be available after November via a compassionate access scheme, until alternative treatments are available on the PBS.
Contact: BCT Media & PR Lead, Sara McGregor – 0424 591 241 or sara.mcgregor@bctrials.org.au
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