Immunotherapy access expansion brings new possibilities for some rare ovarian cancers

Ovarian Cancer Australia has been advocating alongside sector colleagues for greater access to a wider range of therapies for women with ovarian cancer, including advocacy over the past two years around certain immunotherapies. 

Many of you may have seen news on the weekend about a significant change to how some cancer medicines—specifically certain immunotherapies—will be made available in Australia. We want to explain what this means, what it doesn’t mean, and why it matters for women with ovarian cancer. 

On the weekend, the Federal Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, announced his decision to allow certain immunotherapy medicines to be subsidised on the PBS for any advanced cancer, not just for a select number of tumour types. This change means doctors can now prescribe the treatments based on their clinical judgement, rather than just on someone’s tumour type. This is particularly important for people with rare cancer types who previously had no funded access. 

What does this announcement mean? 

Although immunotherapy isn’t currently a standard or effective treatment for most women with ovarian cancer, the announcement is still meaningful for several reasons: 

1. It may help some women with some rare ovarian cancer subtypes and other gynaecological cancers. 
2. It represents a major shift in how Australia thinks about cancer treatment.  
3. It shows advocacy in action. 

This change follows years of OCA’s policy and advocacy efforts on Medicines and Health Technology Assessment Reform. This push for immunotherapies for all advanced cancers, led by Rare Cancers Australia, with OCA and other organisations working alongside them, reflects the power of collective advocacy to shift longstanding barriers and is welcomed. 

What this announcement does not mean: 

1. It won’t mean immunotherapy is suddenly suitable or recommended for most women with ovarian cancer. We know that not all ovarian cancers will respond to immunotherapy, and your treating team are best placed to advise you on what treatment options are best for you.

2. It is not replacing chemotherapy, PARP inhibitors, or other standard treatments rather it is providing an additional treatment option for some women, if the oncologist feels a woman might benefit.

3. It doesn’t remove the need for further research into effective ovarian cancer immunotherapies and treatments more broadly. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Could this treatment be right for me?

For many women with ovarian cancer, the answer is likely still no at this time. But this does mean that for women who it might benefit, this change might open up a funded option. 

Should I ask my doctor about it?

It’s always okay to ask. Your oncologist can explain whether your type of ovarian cancer is one where immunotherapy has shown benefit, and whether it makes sense to consider it. 

What does this mean for more new treatments down the line? 

This decision signals a more flexible PBS system—one that recognises the expertise of clinicians and acknowledges the importance of personalising treatment based on an individual’s disease. Announcements like this support the direction we need as research evolves, and this more agile and personalised approach is one of the actions OCA has been advocating for in policy reform.

Our message to the community 

We know announcements like these can create both hope and uncertainty. As always, our team is here to support you through the complexities. For some women—especially those with rare subtypes—this may be an important and longawaited change. For many others, we know treatment options won’t change for now. 

This decision does show a system becoming more flexible, more responsive, and more willing to consider individual circumstances. 

If you have questions or would like support, please do reach out to our Support Team through our Helpline on 1300 660 334 (during business hours) or email us support@ovariancancer.net.au