HEROIN BUSTERS WARN OF 'POWERFUL' OPPONENTS

The manufacturers of the anti-heroin drug Naltrexone have warned they
will appeal against a decision to reject the drug for Federal subsidy
under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), hinting at a
"powerful" lobby working against its acceptance.

Mr Alastair Young, the managing director of Orphan Australia,
distributors of Naltrexone in Australia, said the company was
disappointed the importance of the drug had not been recognised.

"The decision by the PBAS [Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee]
to reject both our applications was clearly influenced by powerful
organisations that have a vested interest in limiting the supply of
REVIA [Naltrexone] for the treatment of alcohol dependence or opiate
dependence," he said. "We are concerned that the process of evaluation
may have been incorrect and we are considering all our options in
relation to the decisions."

Professor Don Birkett, the chairman of the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Advisory Committee, the independent clinical body that guards the PBS
list, confirmed a Herald report yesterday that Naltrexone had been
refused because of its "very modest medical effectiveness" in clinical
trials.

"This low degree of efficacy, coupled with the cost of the drugs,
results in a cost effectiveness that is insufficient to justify PBS
listing," he said.

"Unless the sponsor provides appreciably greater benefits than seen in
the trials to date, the committee will be unable to recommend PBS subsidy."

But according to Mr Young, the company's application showed clear
benefits in the reduction of heroin usage and related cost
effectiveness, as well as a clear clinical and cost effectiveness for
alcohol dependence.

Naltrexone blocks the euphoria and other effects of opioids. It has
been available in Australia since March this year and can be
prescribed by GPs as an alternative to methadone and to counter
dependence on alcohol.